Two women embrace and cry as they look out over a burned area in Lahaina, Hawaii in August 2023. A new survey finds most Americans expect the impacts of climate change to worsen in the next 30 years, as climate scientists warn.
Although most respondents say climate change impacts will be more severe in the next 30 years, only 41% think climate change will make their own community a worse place to live over that same time period. And just as many say they don't think climate change will make much difference in their community.Flooding in Bridgewater, Vt., in July 2023 submerged vehicles and flooded buildings. Americans are sad, anxious and often motivated to act about climate change according to a new survey.
That concern may spur young people to donate money to climate-related causes, contact elected officials about climate legislation or attend a climate rally, the survey suggests. Nearly one third of people 18 to 29 years old say they've participated in climate activism in the last year, which is nearly twice the rate of people 65 and older.The survey asked people about the feelings they have when they read news stories about climate change or encounter climate advocacy in their lives.