Public opinion about climate change was reviewed in the National Science Board's Science and Engineering Indicators (PDF) 2018.
"Americans are divided on the severity and cause of climate change but concern has returned to previous highs," the report summarized, citing:
- More than 6 in 10 Americans said they worried a "great deal" (45%) or a "fair amount" (21%) about "global warming." Similar high levels of worry occurred in the early to mid-2000s.
- The highest recorded proportion of Americans ever — more than 6 in 10 — say they believe that "global warming" is likely caused by humans.
- While 7 in 10 Americans recognize that "most" scientists believe warming is due to human activities, fewer than 2 in 10 know that almost all climate scientists attribute warming to human activity.
- Fewer than half of Americans think that "global warming" will pose a serious threat during their lifetime.