- Results from Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion’s National Surveys on Energy and the Environment were released Tuesday
- Researchers found more Americans are feeling the effects of climate change
- Nearly two out of three indicated that humans will not be able to adapt to a hotter climate without major changes to their lifestyles
ALLENTOWN, Pa. — More and more Americans are feeling the effects of climate change.
“The 2023 [National Surveys on Energy and the Environment] finds that over six out of 10 Americans (62%) agree that they have personally felt the effects of climate change,” according to the study. “The 2023 results mark the first time this decade when six out of 10 adults in the United States reported that they have themselves directly experienced the impacts of climate change.”
Released Tuesday, results from Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion’s National Surveys on Energy and the Environment show Americans want to prevent future global warming, but also believe adaptation to climate change will require major lifestyle changes. The study was conducted via telephone between Feb. 2 and March 20, with 711 adult residents surveyed.
Given the limited progress in mitigating climate change, and the arrival of many of the negative impacts of climate change, this NSEE report examines the degree to which Americans may be adopting pessimistic views regarding efforts to address the warming of the planet.Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion’s 2023 National Surveys on Energy and the Environment
“Given the limited progress in mitigating climate change, and the arrival of many of the negative impacts of climate change, this NSEE report examines the degree to which Americans may be adopting pessimistic views regarding efforts to address the warming of the planet,” according to the report.
MORE: Dig in to the Muhlenberg survey
Key findings included that despite limited success in preventing climate change, most Americans don’t want to abandon efforts to prevent future warming, and they remain skeptical that adaptation to climate change can occur without major changes to lifestyles.
There has been “little shift in American public support for deemphasizing mitigation over the last twelve years,” according to the study. “About one third of Americans have consistently agreed (either 'strongly' or 'somewhat') that instead of trying to stop global warming the focus should move to adapting to a warmer climate.”
Nearly two in three adults, or 65%, indicated that humans will not be able to adapt to a hotter climate without major changes to their lifestyles. That has remained “fairly consistent,” according to the report, “with solid majorities of Americans maintaining this opinion in six waves of the NSEE between 2011 and 2023.”
The survey also found that most Americans are pessimistic about the ability of governments to prevent the most damaging effects of climate change, and that pessimism is most substantial among older Americans.
“Beyond the NSEE item exploring public views on moving away from mitigation efforts, there is an item in the 2023 wave that examines confidence in governments to mitigate climate change,” according to the findings. “The item employs a narrow frame that asks respondents their level of agreement with the statement ‘governments will be able to stop the most damaging effects of climate change from occurring.’”
About half of respondents, or 51%, ”strongly disagree[d]” that governments will be able to stop the most damaging effects of climate change. And, older Americans are most likely to maintain that pessimism.
“Nearly six in 10 Americans (59%) over the age of 45 ‘strongly disagree’ that governments will mitigate the worst of climate change, compared to less than four in 10 adult Americans under the age of 30,” according to the report.
