Title: Americans Feel Impact of Extreme Weather and Believe in Climate Change, New Poll Finds
New polling from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research reveals that an increasing number of Americans who have experienced extreme weather events in recent years believe in the reality of climate change. The survey indicates that about 9 in 10 Americans (87%) have personally encountered at least one extreme weather event in the last five years, such as droughts, extreme heat, severe storms, wildfires, or flooding. This figure has risen from 79% just a few months ago in April. Moreover, approximately three-quarters of those who have experienced extreme weather attribute it at least partially to climate change.
The poll further reveals that 64% of U.S. adults think they have recently encountered extreme weather events caused by climate change, up from 54% in April. Additionally, around 65% of Americans believe that climate change has already had or will have a significant impact on their lifetime. These results suggest that the severity of this summer’s heat, which contributed to the hottest Northern Hemisphere summer ever recorded, has played a major role in shaping public opinion.
A staggering 74% of Americans claim to have been affected by extremely hot weather or heatwaves in the last five years, a significant increase from 55% in April. Among those who experienced this scorching heat, 92% report having endured it in just the past few months. The unprecedented heat was not limited to the United States, as millions of Americans were also impacted by Canada’s worst-ever wildfire season, resulting in haze and smoke affecting six in 10 U.S. adults.
Extreme weather events worldwide, including heatwaves, storms, flooding, and wildfires, have affected tens of millions of people this year alone, and scientists argue that climate change has made these events more frequent and intense. Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, suggests that the increasingly evident link between personal experiences with extreme weather and climate change is influencing public opinion. He acknowledges that media coverage of climate change has undergone a noticeable shift, leading individuals to interpret information in a more scientific manner.
The survey findings highlight a division between Democrats and Republicans in their beliefs regarding climate change. Among those who have encountered extreme weather events, 93% of Democrats firmly believe that climate change is a contributing factor, while only 48% of Republicans share the same sentiment. Overall, 74% of Americans assert that climate change is happening, with just 5% of Democrats and a quarter of Republicans remaining unsure.
While some individuals like Ronald Livingston from Clute, Texas, who experienced months without rain and scorching temperatures, acknowledged the impact of weather on their daily lives, they remain uncertain about the role of human activity in climate change. Meanwhile, Kathleen Maxwell from Phoenix, Arizona, fears that extreme weather events are a clear indication of climate change and considers it imperative for more Americans to support efforts to mitigate its effects.
In conclusion, as extreme weather events become more prevalent, an increasing number of Americans are attributing these occurrences to climate change. The survey results indicate that personal experiences with extreme weather are shaping public opinion, with individuals becoming more receptive to the scientific evidence provided. Nonetheless, a noticeable divide remains between Democrats and Republicans regarding the acceptance of climate change as a reality.
