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Report reveals what Britons believe about climate change

A majority of Britons believe climate change is leading to worsening flooding, more severe storms, and rising seas, according to a new report by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication (YPCCC). The nationally representative survey——found that 80% of the British public are at least "somewhat" worried about climate change, and most draw a link between climate change and extreme heat, water shortages, droughts, pests and wildfires. The number is higher than in the U.S., where just 64% of those surveyed by YPCCC said they are at least somewhat worried.

The findings indicate that a significant majority not only believe climate change is happening and is connected to intensifying extreme weather—they also support government action to address it, the authors said.

"Significantly more Britons than Americans understand that climate change is happening, are worried about it, and say they have personally experienced its effects," said Anthony Leiserowitz, the JoshAni-TomKat Professor of Climate Communication and director of YPCCC. "This awareness and acceptance of the problem can create the social and political conditions supporting climate action in the U.K., from the individual to the local, national, and international level."

While the U.K.'s carbon footprint is substantial, the country was the first member of the G7 to set a legally binding target of net-zero emissions by 2050, and last year it closed all of its coal-fired power plants.

The study, conducted in November 2024, surveyed 10,660 British residents across the country, aged 16 and older. Among its key findings was that 86% of people think climate change is happening, compared to 70% of Americans; 82% say that the issue is at least "somewhat" important to them personally; more than two-thirds think climate change should be a high or very high priority for the government; and a majority supports the use of renewable energy.

However, the survey also pointed to a "psychological distance" where even those who say they've experienced impacts of climate change still view it as an abstract problem. The proportion who believe climate change will harm them personally was noticeably smaller than the proportion who said they've experienced, or their local area, has experienced its effects. Likewise, the proportion who believe climate change will harm future generations was far larger than those who fear it will impact them.

"People everywhere tend to see climate change as a more distant problem, affecting people, places, and things relatively farther away in space and time. But these events are happening to billions of people right here, right now, so communication efforts that help people connect the dots between climate change and their lived experiences could help reduce this sense of distance and increase public risk perception and support for climate action," Leiserowitz said.

YPCCC has conducted several studies and projects aimed at understanding awareness and perception of climate and environmental risks, including surveys in Indonesia, Ireland, India, and the U.S.