New Survey Suggests Americans Believe Climate Change is Becoming a Joke

By: Ben Campbell | Last updated: Jun 22, 2024

Over the past several years, there has been discourse on the strategies used by climate change organizations, with some suggesting the use of fear tactics to raise awareness about the world’s climatic problems.

Many people now suffer from “climate anxiety.” However, according to a new survey, fear-mongering has lost its effect as a growing number of Americans are more concerned about the economy than the climate.

Climate Change

Over the past few decades, scientists have become increasingly aware that human particles, including the burning of fossil fuels, which release harmful greenhouse gases, are negatively affecting our planet. 

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A protestor holding a climate change sign while outside with others in a rally.

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While public opinion of climate change and support for policies have increased over the last decade, it’s important to note that media and political discourse play a significant role in shaping these opinions. Many are still uncertain, with some suggesting it’s another way for governments to increase taxes. 

The Problem With Data

As evidence of humanity’s role in climate change continues to mount, many are left wondering why some are still hesitant to take action. 

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The simple fact is, it is still unclear as to the true extent of our conflicting data, which does exist to some degree, pushed by groups of scientists like the C02 Coalition, who argue more carbon dioxide is a good thing. However, it’s important to note that the majority of scientific consensus supports the view that human activities are contributing significantly to climate change. 

The Division of Opinion on Climate Change

Scientists’ varying opinions have led to division in the US and around the world on how best to tackle climate problems. 

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While some argue it’s best to refocus energy on reducing pollution, such as plastic waste and pesticide use, others are more firm in their approach and argue we must stop all fossil fuel use by 2030 if we want to save Earth for future generations. It’s the latter group who tend to also suffer from climate-induced anxiety. 

Climate Anxiety

Climate anxiety has become somewhat widespread across the US as organizations and governmental bodies continue to release data suggesting the world may soon begin to face the severe consequences of our effect on the climate.

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According to data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, “Overall, 7% of American adults are experiencing at least mild levels of climate change psychological distress.”

The Youth Are Most Affected By Climate Change

Research shows that the vast majority of adults suffering from climate anxiety are aged between 16 and 25. 

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“We see that a lot of young people are saying, I think my life will be worse than my parents’ lives,” said Dr. Sarah Schwartz, a professor of psychology at Suffolk University in Boston.

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60% of Young Adults Worried About the Climate

A study conducted by The Lancet questioned over 10,000 young adults on their attitudes towards climate change. 

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Results from the survey indicate that nearly 60% of young adults claim they are very worried about climate change. As much as 45% also said, “their feelings about climate change negatively affected their daily life and functioning.”

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New Poll Suggests Americans Worry About Other Problems

So, while climate anxiety is certainly affecting a portion of Americans, a new poll conducted by YouGov on behalf of CBS News suggests that Americans are more worried about paying their bills than the ongoing climatic issues. 

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The survey suggests it is difficult to focus on the problems surrounding climate change when daily hardships centered on finances are currently leaving many struggling to get by in the US. 

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Over 2,000 Americans Partook in a Survey

The 2,230 Americans who took part in the survey were given a list of issues currently affecting the United States and asked to rank them in order of importance, according to The Laconia Daily Sun.

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When the results were calculated, many researchers were shocked to observe that “climate change” was near the bottom of the list, with only around 45% considering it “very important.”

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The List Toppers

While climate change was considered slightly more important than “issues of race and diversity,” which came in at 40%, it was much lower than others on the list.

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The Americans who participated in the survey placed more importance on issues such as (82%), inflation (79%), and crime (65%), which makes sense. The Laconia Daily Sun claims, “When real problems arise, fake ones tend to fade.”

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More Pressing Problems

In an article posted on their website, CBS News claims that the “majority of Americans support U.S. taking steps to reduce climate change.” However, their most recent poll tends to suggest otherwise.

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The poll results speak very clearly: Americans are more concerned about their overall finances and the rising costs they’ve been experiencing for several years than what the government has to say about climate change.

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No One Knows What to Do

There’s typically little, if any, feedback from people on what they want the government to do about climate change.

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“Which is why, when the countries of the world came together to define an objective, the best they could come up with was to not surpass an overall global temperature of 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels from the year 1900,” the Laconia Daily Sun wrote.

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The Underlying Argument for Failure

The government’s efforts to keep global temperatures from surpassing the 1.5 degrees Celsius mark failed miserably, yet they resulted in an increase in taxes for US residents. 

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“Despite constant harassment and taxation of their citizens under the climate change pretex,” wrote The Laconia Daily Sun. 

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The Government Has No Idea How to Tackle Climate Change

According to the paper, the government is clearly unsure of how to truly tackle the problems surrounding climate change. However, they’ll continue to increase taxes to do so. 

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They continued, “Clearly have no idea what they’re doing. Their argument is that they just haven’t governed hard enough yet or taken enough of your money. How convenient.”

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No Difference on Climate Change

The voters were asked whether they see a difference in the climate change politics currently being speculated by 2024 presidential candidates Joe Biden and Donald Trump, to which the majority said no.

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Over 50% of those who participated in the YouGov survey claim that no matter who is elected president of the US in November, neither’s policies will significantly improve the problems associated with climate change.

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Americans Prefer Tax Rebates

Voters were then asked which of Biden’s environmental-related policies they supported the most. Those that topped the included tax rebates. 

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As the Laconia Daily Sun puts it, “Because who’s going to say no to the government taking less of your money?”

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Cleaner Drinking Water Takes Priority

The most popular initiative of the entire survey had nothing to do with climate change. 

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According to the results, Americans were most concerned with “ regulations to reduce toxic chemicals in drinking water.” Over 70% of the participants labeled this important, and it has nothing to do with the Earth’s climatic problems. 

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Analyzing the Results of the Poll

When the results of the YouGov poll are considered as a whole, they point towards a collective mindset in the US that transcends the anxiety associated with climate change and is focused more on day-to-day life and its struggles.

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“Judging by the YouGov poll, much of the American public is getting wise to climate change nonsense, as well, which is rather remarkable considering the incessant global propaganda,” wrote the New Hampshire-based newspaper.

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Eco Anxiety Remains a Real Fear

Nonetheless, climate-induced anxiety remains a reality for many Americans. “Eco-anxiety” is real, according to the American Psychological Association. Defined as a “chronic fear of environmental doom.”

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According to the Mental Health Commission of Canada, climate anxiety can stem from a direct experience of “extreme weather events” or from “Exposure to climate change information through news media.”

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Federal Carbon Tax Looming

While America remains divided on the climate change initiatives put into place by their government, it could be much worse.

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15% Of Americans Don’t Believe in Climate Change

A separate study published by the University of Michigan revealed that as many as 15% of Americans don’t actually believe climate change is real, further revealing the nation’s polarized attitudes toward global warming. 

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However, the data was collected using an AI program which scanned “over 7.4m tweets posted by roughly 1.3 million people on the social media platform X (previously Twitter) between 2017 and 2019,” according to The Guardian

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X Users Deny Climate Change

Speaking on the results of the study, co-author Joshua Newell, who works as a professor of environment and sustainability at the University of Michigan, explained it proves without a doubt that a substantial portion of Americans don’t believe in climate change. 

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In this photo illustration, the logo of US online social media and social networking site 'X'/ A bronze statue of a female figure holding scales, which represents justice

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“Over half of the tweets we looked at simply denied that climate change was real, that it was a hoax,” said Newell,

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Professor Disappointed With Results

Professor Newell was initially taken aback by the results and explained that he was disappointed that so many Americans still don’t believe in climate change. 

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An older man dressed in a green shirt who is visibly upset sits with his head in his hands

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“It wasn’t surprising, but it was disappointing, I would hope that more and more Americans would believe in climate change and the importance of addressing it,” he said

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Going Forward

The climate-danced anxiety experienced by a vast portion of America’s youth isn’t going away anytime soon. Nor will everyone agree on the extent to which humanity is influencing climate change. 

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As the US remains politically divided, it appears the varying opinions on climate change will also remain. While a portion of the population sees it as of the utmost urgent, others believe its nothing more than a scam implemented to increase taxes. 

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