Trends in Public Attitudes Toward Climate Change: The Influence of the Economy and Climategate on Risk, Information, and Public Policy

Abstract

In 2007, many believed the United States was on the verge of a “tipping point” that would have resulted in a comprehensive national plan to deal with climate change. However, for a variety of reasons, this never came to pass. This project compares the results of three unique national public opinion surveys that probe deep into the public's perceptions of climate change. Using surveys conducted in 2004, 2007, and 2013, we explore public behaviors and attitudes about climate change and examine which of the two competing explanations (economy vs. Climategate) for attitude changes might have had the most impact on the declines witnessed since 2007. Overall, these results help to explain the current state of public attitudes toward climate change.