U.S. Climate Worry Stays Near Record High as 44% Say Media Underestimates Threat

Forty-four percent of U.S. adults express significant worry about climate change, a near-record level. Simultaneously, 44% of Americans believe news media coverage understates the severity of this issue.

A recent annual survey reveals that public concern regarding climate change among Americans remains consistently high. The poll, conducted by Gallup in March and published on April 14, collected data from U.S. adults across the nation. It measures the extent to which Americans worry about global warming and their perceptions of media coverage.

Forty-four percent of U.S. adults report worrying "a great deal" about climate change. This figure represents the third-highest level of concern recorded since Gallup began this specific poll in 1989. The previous peaks were 46% in 2020 and 45% in 2017. An additional 22% expressed a "fair amount" of worry, while 12% worried "only a little," and 23% did not worry at all.

Simultaneously, 44% of Americans believe news media coverage underestimates the seriousness of climate change. This marks an increase from 38% the previous year and stands as the highest level recorded for this specific perception. Conversely, the percentage who believe global warming is exaggerated has fallen to 32%, the lowest since 2006.

Gallup attributes these trends, including the sustained near-historic levels of climate concern and the increased belief in media underestimation, to shifts in U.S. climate policy. The institution suggests that the Trump administration's policy changes, which included questioning climate science and withdrawing from international agreements like the Paris Agreement, influenced public perception.

These findings indicate a consistent level of public anxiety about climate change within the U.S. population. The parallel increase in the number of Americans who perceive media underestimation suggests a potential disconnect between public sentiment and news reporting on climate issues. This trend highlights ongoing dynamics in how the American public processes environmental information and policy changes.

Observers will monitor future surveys to see if these high levels of concern and media perception continue or if policy shifts alter public sentiment.