Brian Kennedy

This report is made possible by the Pew Charitable Trusts. This report is a collaborative effort based on the input and analysis of the following individuals. Find related reports online at pewresearch.org/pewresearch-org/science Primary research team Cary Funk, Associate Director, Research Brian Kennedy, Research Associate Meg Hefferon, Research Assistant Lee Rainie, Director, Internet, Science, Technology Research […]

This is the first in a series of reports that details public views on science and scientists in areas that connect with American’s daily lives. This report focuses on climate, energy and environment including the relationship between people’s beliefs about these issues and their behaviors related to the environment in everyday life.

Scholars have long debated the role knowledge about and understanding of science plays in shaping people’s views on science issues. The common supposition is that when ordinary people have different views from those of experts that the differences stem from knowledge gaps: If people knew more, the argument goes, they would agree with the experts. […]

While many Americans say they are concerned about the environment, a much smaller share — roughly two-in-ten — sees themselves as making an effort to live out that concern all the time. People focused on everyday environmentalism in this way also tend to be concerned about the issues of climate change but their beliefs about […]

Americans’ concerns about climate change have put energy production of fossil fuels and the carbon gases these fuels emit at the center of public discussions about climate and the environment. Those debates coupled with long-standing economic pressures to decrease reliance on other countries for energy needs have raised attention to renewable forms of energy including […]

There is a host of ways Americans’ opinions about climate issues divide. The divisions start with views about the causes of global climate change. Nearly half of U.S. adults say climate change is due to human activity and a similar share says either that the Earth’s warming stems from natural causes or that there is […]