We know that Earth is warming. Heatwaves are becoming more common, and the global average temperature has increased by 1.8°F (1°C) since the early 20th century. Scientists have been trying to understand what we can do about this. At the same time, the public has been wrestling with how to feel about it.
And in a word, they’re worried.
The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC) has been studying US attitudes and preferences since 2005. One of the questions they’ve been asking is: “Are you worried about global warming?” For 63 percent of Americans, the answer is “yes.” In 2024, nearly two out of three people were ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ worried about climate change. Severe worry about global warming is often referred to as climate anxiety.
But the US is not a monolith, and these views vary by location. Risks—like floods, droughts, wildfires, heat- and cold-waves, intense storms, hurricanes, and others—also depend on geography. Some areas are more prone to the consequences of a changing climate than others. One might suspect that people in these risk-prone areas worry more about global warming.
Data suggests that people in areas more prone to climate-related hazards are not more worried about global warming. The relationship between at-risk locations and climate anxiety is loose at best. A small trend only begins to emerge—and only for the highest risk areas—once the population size of the counties is factored in. Population size only explains around 19 percent of the county-level trend behind climate anxiety. This suggests another variable is at play.
As it turns out, more than the actual risk of hazards—including those that result in the loss of life and property—climate anxiety in the US follows voter preference. This trend is not subtle. In fact, counties that favored a Democrat for president in 2024 reported higher levels of climate anxiety, independent of their actual climate risk as documented by FEMA’s National Risk Index. There are certainly counties with higher climate risks that are more concerned about climate impacts. But overall, the greater the support for a Democrat, the higher the reported level of climate anxiety.
Counties, like those in California’s Bay Area, near New York City, and Salt Lake, voted highly in Kamala Harris’ favor. They also reported some of the highest levels of worry about global warming of all counties in the United States. More than 80 percent of respondents in these counties reported being ‘somewhat’ or ‘very’ worried about global warming. In contrast, Roberts County, Texas had the strongest preference for Donald Trump in the US with 92 percent of voters choosing the Republican. Yet fewer than half of Roberts County reported the same level of climate anxiety. The rest of the nation follows suit, with 77 percent of a county’s climate anxiety being explained by who they chose in the 2024 presidential election
Climate anxiety is a relatively new term, and it’s not a perfect one. Being worried about global warming does not necessarily mean that someone is anxiously losing sleep over the weather report, or that they experience symptoms of distress. Some who worry about global warming may be more concerned about, interested in, or aware of Earth’s changing climate and the consequences that follow. Still, it’s striking that local and personal experience and risk levels with these consequences pale in comparison to political preferences.
Researchers are trying to better understand climate anxiety. Other factors that contribute to climate anxiety include education level, the amount and source of media consumed, and vulnerability to risks related to climate change. Scientists are also investigating ways to help people cope with and manage climate anxiety.
More to Explore
- See how different hazards affect regions of the United States.
- Learn how climate scientists in the 1980s predicted the changes we see today.
- Track variables related to climate change with the Global Climate Dashboard.
