Climate anxiety in the U.S. has reached 44%, the highest recorded level of concern among U.S. citizens about global warming since 1989. An additional 66% of US adults stated they have a moderate level of concern about global warming, and prior to 2017, average levels of concern generally ranged from approximately 30% to 25% (2011). Global studies conducted by organizations like the United Nations Environment Program have found that over 70% of individuals worldwide believe climate change represents a major threat to the planet.

How Has Climate Anxiety Evolved Over Time?

Climate anxiety in the U.S. has increased, shifting from a moderate concern over the past decade to a much greater emotional involvement with climate change risks now. The current level of concern is as follows: 44% have a great deal of concern about climate change; 22% have a fair amount of concern; 12% have a very small amount of concern; and 23% have no concern.

As people have become more exposed to extreme weather events and as the scientific community has reached an agreement on the human contributions to global warming through the IPCC, evidence to support this trend has continued to grow over the last several years.

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Why Are Americans More Concerned Now?

Approximately 44% of Americans reported thinking the media underplays the impact of global warming, while just 32% believed that the media overstated the impact of climate change. The proportion of people who believe that the media is providing an accurate account of the effects of climate change is 21%, which means that more Americans believe that climate change is a serious and possibly unreported issue, which reflects increasing amounts of concern and mental distress.

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Political Polarization Determines Climate Anxiety

Political polarization remains the major determinant of climate anxiety in the U.S.

• Democrats: 69% (average since 2017) are very worried
• Independents: 45%
• Republicans: 11% with a record low of 6% in 2025

Moreover, 90% of Democrats believe that climate change is caused by human activity, while only 28% of Republicans share this view. There has been a considerable increase in polarized attitudes toward climate change since the beginning of the 2000s.

The political approach taken at various times also had an effect on people’s perceptions. The Obama and Biden administrations were oriented towards dealing with climate issues, while Trump discredited them and undermined environmental regulations.

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Does America Believe in Global Warming?

Americans now accept global warming as fact:

• 61% say it’s impacting them already
• 14% think it won’t happen
• Some people think that it will come in the future

However, even when Americans acknowledge global warming, only 45% believe that it will personally affect their lifestyle. The lack of belief and perceived threat defines the American fear of climate change.

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Human Impact or Natural Reasons for Global Warming

The majority of people believe in human impact on the environment:

• 64% say human activities are causing global warming
• 33% think it’s due to environmental changes

These facts are consistent with international studies. NASA confirms that 97% of climatologists think climate change is human-induced.

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Impact of Weather on Public Attitude

Surprisingly, personal weather conditions affect opinions about the climate in that:

• 37% experienced cold winters
• 33% had warm winters
• 29% noted no difference

People who experienced warm winters believed there was climate change by a whopping 68%, which illustrates how personal experience drives climate concern in the US.

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What Does This Mean for the Future?

Climate anxiety is considered a new part of the American psyche. There is growing public concern, substantial scientific evidence supporting the existence of climate change, and people see firsthand how it is affecting their lives. Yet, because there is still a political divide about whether or not climate change is happening, the ability to take collaborative action on it is limited.

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Climate Anxiety Is High, But Action Remains Uneven

While climate anxiety in the U.S. is at its highest level ever due to increased awareness, more widely accepted scientific evidence, and individuals seeing firsthand the effects of climate change on them, there is no clear connection between the level of anxiety and individual perceptions of risk or collective action.

The most important part of bridging the gap between awareness and action, between belief and policy, as well as stabilizing public concern about climate change, is to build a consensus among the country’s political, social, and economic institutions/drivers to effectively respond to climate change.

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FAQs

1. What is climate anxiety?

Climate anxiety is defined as the distress, apprehension, or fear associated with climate change and its possible effects on our planet and humanity.

2. Why is climate anxiety growing in the United States?

This anxiety stems from heightened awareness, natural disasters, scientific proof, and media reports about climate threats.

3. Are all Americans equally worried about climate change?

Certainly not; there is considerable variability in concerns among American citizens depending on their political beliefs.

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