Overview
- The Pew Research Center survey, published May 28, 2026, found 48% of U.S. adults say recent warming is mostly caused by human activity while 22% cite natural patterns and 12% say there is no solid evidence the Earth is warming.
- Partisan divides are stark: 75% of Democrats say warming is mostly human-caused versus 21% of Republicans, and 87% of Democrats say the federal government is doing too little compared with 31% of Republicans.
- Majorities of Americans report more extreme weather, with 68% saying such events are more frequent and 62% saying they are more severe, but Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to perceive these trends.
- Public faith in technological fixes is limited: only about 20% expect new technology will solve most climate problems while half of those who see harm expect major lifestyle changes will be needed.
- The survey notes policy context matters for public views as the second Trump administration has moved to roll back air and water protections and expand fossil-fuel access on federal lands, a backdrop tied to growing pessimism about national and international action.