On December 7, the Pew Research Center released a report which reveals that younger U.S. adults are more likely than their elders to be concerned about climate change and to believe it is a result of human activity. The report was a supplement to a major study released on November 17 that explores the connection between religiously-affiliated Americans and their views on climate change and the environment.
The study found that two-thirds of Americans under 40 believe climate change is a serious global problem, while only 52% of Americans 40 and older believe the same. Additionally, the survey reveals that 64% of young Americans believe climate change is caused by human activities, while less than half–42%–of older Americans have that view.
This correlation between age and climate change concerns can also be seen among Christian religious groups.
Evangelical Protestants are among the groups that are most skeptical that climate change is a serious problem. Yet younger evangelicals–41%– are more likely than their elders–31%– to be concerned about climate change. Following the national trend, evangelicals under 40 also believe the Earth’s temperature is rising because of human activity at rates that are higher than older evangelicals.
Click here to read the full report about the link between Americans’ age and climate change. To read the Pew Research Center report about the religious affiliations of Americans and their views on the environment, click here.
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