How Americans View Future Harms From Climate Change in Their Community and Around the U.S.
A majority of Americans believe climate change is causing harm to people in the U.S. today and 63% expect things to get worse in their lifetime.
Brian Kennedy is a senior researcher at the Pew Research Center, where he focuses on science and society research. He is an expert on public opinion on a number of science-related topics and frequently writes about public views on climate and energy issues and public trust in science. His work on climate, energy and environmental attitudes includes Majorities of Americans Prioritize Renewable Energy, Back Steps to Address Climate Change and Americans Divided Over Direction of Biden’s Climate Policies. And his publications on public trust in scientists include Americans Trust in Scientists, Positive Views of Science Continue to Decline and Americans Value U.S. Role as Scientific Leader, but 38% Say Country Is Losing Ground Globally.
Kennedy frequently discusses research on public opinion on climate, energy and environmental issues and public trust in science with the media and presents research on these topics to outside groups.
Kennedy is also an expert in methodological topics, including scale development. He has developed survey questions and scales to measure science knowledge and awareness of artificial intelligence in daily activities.
He received his Ph.D. in political science at Michigan State University, where his work focused on cross-national attitudes about climate change. Kennedy received his bachelor’s degree at Davidson College.
Publications
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Americans continue to have doubts about climate scientists’ understanding of climate change
The share of Americans who say climate scientists understand very well whether climate change is occurring decreased from 37% in 2021 to 32% this year.
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What the data says about Americans’ views of climate change
Two-thirds of Americans say the United States should prioritize developing renewable energy sources over expanding the production of fossil fuels.
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Americans’ Views of Space: U.S. Role, NASA Priorities and Impact of Private Companies
A majority of Americans (69%) say it’s essential for the U.S. to continue to be a world leader in space. As private companies become a bigger part of the industry, the public gives them more positive than negative ratings for their contributions to space exploration and spacecraft development. Still, Americans continue to say NASA has a critical role to play going forward.
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Majorities of Americans Prioritize Renewable Energy, Back Steps to Address Climate Change
Large shares of Americans support the U.S. taking steps to address global climate change and prioritize renewable energy development in the country. Still, fewer than half are ready to phase out fossil fuels completely and 59% oppose ending the production of gas-powered cars.
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Americans’ Largely Positive Views of Childhood Vaccines Hold Steady
About nine-in-ten (88%) Americans say, overall, the benefits of childhood vaccines for measles, mumps and rubella outweigh the risks, identical to the share who said this before the coronavirus outbreak. U.S. adults are less confident in COVID-19 vaccines: Fewer than half rate them as having high health benefits and a low risk of side effects.
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How Americans view emerging uses of artificial intelligence, including programs to generate text or art
Among Americans who have heard about AI programs that can write news articles, 16% describe this as a major advance for the news media.
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Public Awareness of Artificial Intelligence in Everyday Activities
Many Americans are aware of common ways they might encounter AI in daily life, though fewer are able to correctly identify each of the six common uses of AI in the survey. More broadly, the public remains more concerned than excited about the increasing use of AI in daily life.
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Americans Value U.S. Role as Scientific Leader, but 38% Say Country Is Losing Ground Globally
Large majorities value government investments in science and consider it important for the United States to be a world leader in scientific achievement, but few think the country is gaining ground globally.
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Home solar panel adoption continues to rise in the U.S.
While residential solar power generates just a fraction of the country’s overall electricity, it has continued to grow rapidly.
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