Why Americans are Conflicted about Climate Change, Environmental Policy, and Science

In the wake of a climate deal with China and congressional vote on the Keystone XL pipeline, a new national survey finds that few Americans believe they will personally be harmed by climate change but that it poses significant risk to people in poorer countries. The PRRI/AAR Religion, Values and Climate Change Survey finds that less than one-quarter (24 percent) of Americans believe that they will be personally harmed a great deal by climate change, while 30 percent say climate change will affect them a moderate amount. Nearly half say climate change will cause them little (23 percent) or no (22 percent) harm. In contrast, a majority (54 percent) of Americans say that people living in poorer developing countries will be harmed a great deal as a result of climate change, while 20 percent say people in developing countries will experience a moderate amount of harm.

The landmark 3,000-person survey, conducted by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute in association with the American Academy of Religion, explores beliefs and concerns about climate change and the impact of religion on those attitudes. CONT.

Public Religion Research Institute

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