Climate Change in the American Mind

Research Questions
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How do Americans conceptualize global climate change? What thoughts, images and feelings does global warming evoke? Do Americans understand the causes, impacts and potential solutions to climate change? Does the American public perceive global climate change as a real threat? How likely and how severe do they believe the consequences will be? Does the American public support public policies to mitigate climate change? What kinds of individual actions have Americans already taken to mitigate global climate change and how common are these behaviors?

Methodology
Nationally representative surveys.

Publications

Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., and Roser-Renouf, C. (2009) Saving energy at home and on the road: A survey of Americans' energy saving behaviors, intentions, motivations, and barriers. Yale University and George Mason University. New Haven, CT: Yale Project on Climate Change.

Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., and Roser-Renouf, C. (2008) Global Warming’s “Six Americas”: An audience segmentation. Yale University and George Mason University. New Haven, CT: Yale Project on Climate Change.

Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., and Roser-Renouf, C. (2008) Global warming and the 2008 presidential election. Yale University and George Mason University. New Haven, CT: Yale Project on Climate Change.

Leiserowitz, A. and Broad, K. (2008) Florida: Public opinion on climate change. A Yale University / University of Miami / Columbia University Poll. New Haven, CT: Yale Project on Climate Change.

Leiserowitz, A., Shome, D., Marx, S., Hammer, S., and Broad, K. (2008) The New York City global warming survey. A Columbia University / Yale University Poll. New Haven, CT: Yale Project on Climate Change.

Leiserowitz, A. (2007) Surveying the impact of Live Earth on American public opinion. A Yale University / Gallup / ClearVision Institute Study. New Haven, CT: Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

Leiserowitz, A. and Feinberg, G. (2007) American support for local action on global warming. The GfK Roper / Yale Survey on Environmental Issues. New Haven, CT: Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

Leiserowitz, A. (2007) American opinions on global warming. A Yale University / Gallup / ClearVision Institute Poll. New Haven, CT: Yale School of Forestry & Environmental Studies.

Leiserowitz, A. (2006) Climate change risk perception and policy preferences: The role of affect, imagery, and values. Climatic Change.

Leiserowitz, A. (2005) American risk perceptions: Is climate change dangerous? Risk Analysis, 25 (6), 1433-1442.

Leiserowitz, A. (2007) Communicating the risks of global warming: American risk perceptions, affective images and interpretive communities. In S. Moser and L. Dilling, eds. Communication and social change: Strategies for dealing with the climate crisis, Cambridge University Press.

Leiserowitz, A. (2003) Policy Report: American opinions on global warming. (PDF version)

Leiserowitz, A. (2003). Global warming in the American mind: The roles of affect, imagery, and worldviews in risk perception, policy preferences and behavior. Unpublished Dissertation, University of Oregon, Eugene.