Describing and explaining cross-national public opinion on climate change

Climate change could be the most important international public policy challenge of the 21st century. Its consequences, from rising seas to more violent storms, could change economies and societies. And it is an international problem requiring an international solution. So understanding global public opinion on climate change is important to understanding how the international community might respond. But global public opinion on climate change remains under explored. This project tackles two questions. First, what explains cross-national public opinion on climate change? Second, how does American public opinion on climate change situate in the comparative context?;Around the world, people are concerned about climate change but not alarmed. Although large majorities express that climate change is dangerous and serious, only small minorities see the environment and climate change as issues more important than the economy, health care, or even pollution. Climate change is not a front-burning issue. There is important variation around the world in how people perceive the risks of climate change too. Those with more education and on the political left are more likely to say climate change is a serious problem than those with less education and on the political right. Citizens of richer countries, however, are not more likely than citizens of developing countries to say climate change is serious, so policymakers should not assume that publics in wealthy countries will accept greater sacrifices as part of a climate change policy solution.;Compared to other wealthy countries, the percentage of Americans who say climate change is not serious and dangerous stands out. Americans are also unlikely to be willing to pay higher prices to address climate change and rank the environment and climate change as more important than other issues. What explains why Americans are comparatively less worried? The American public is far more ideologically polarized on climate change, with many Americans seemingly taking cues from political similar elites. The most politically engaged and knowledgeable Americans are the most divided by ideology and party affiliation. And in no other wealthy countries is the public so polarized on climate change. The deep polarization in the United States figures to be an obstacle to international policy addressing climate change.