Trust, Media Habits, and Misperceptions Shape Public Understanding of Climate Change

Americans Underestimate How Much Others Care About Climate Change

Most Americans are concerned about climate change, but they don’t think most others share that concern. That quiet misunderstanding is one of the biggest barriers to climate action in the United States. This report explores how trust in information, media consumption patterns, and perceptions of others shape how people think about climate change. The findings point to a striking paradox: while many Americans trust the information they encounter and are concerned about climate change, they believe others are far less concerned and less able to recognize accurate information.

KEY FINDINGS

• A hidden climate majority exists. Most Americans are concerned about climate change, but they don’t realize how widely that concern is shared. This perception gap (pluralistic ignorance) masks a strong hidden consensus on climate concern.
  
  
• Trust in information and personal concern about climate change reinforce each other. Americans who trust the information they see or hear are far more likely to be concerned about climate change (79%) — and those who are climate-concerned report higher trust. This creates a reinforcing loop between trust and concern.
  
  
• Media ecosystems shape climate beliefs. Where Americans get their news influences what they believe about climate and energy. While mainstream national media, local news, and social media remain the most widely used sources overall, partisan and age differences shape which sources are most relied on, which in turn shapes climate beliefs.
  
  
• Americans trust the information they encounter but doubt others’ ability to recognize climate misinformation. While many Americans trust the information they personally consume, they are far less confident in others’ ability to distinguish climate fact from fiction — especially when they perceive others as less concerned about climate change.
  
  
• Mistrust of others and misperceptions are core barriers to climate action. Rather than a lack of concern, some of the biggest barriers include eroded trust and misperceptions. Misperceptions about energy sources and others’ climate beliefs, combined with low confidence in the public’s ability to navigate climate misinformation, suppress visible engagement and slow individual and collective action.

To learn more, read the full report.

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Full data featured in the report is available in the accompanying toplines.

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Methodology
ecoAmerica designed and administered this online survey, conducted from January 30 to February 3, 2026, using SurveyMonkey. The survey yielded a total of 1,037 complete adult responses and used the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey to weigh the national general population and reflect the demographic composition of the US. The sample was drawn from an online panel, and respondents were screened to ensure they were 18 or older. The margin of error for the sample is +/-3%. When interpreting survey results, it is important to note that all sample surveys are subject to sampling error. Thus, the results of a survey may differ from those obtained if the entire population were interviewed. The size of the sampling error depends upon both the total number of respondents in the survey and the percentage distribution of the responses to a particular question. For example, if 50% of the respondents in a sample of 1,037 answered “Yes” to a particular question, we can be 95% confident that the true percentage lies within 3 points, ranging from 47% to 53%. 

ecoAmerica also conducted a qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended responses from a subset of respondents who reported that other people around them are less concerned about climate change than they are. Their responses were systematically coded into sub-themes and then grouped into six overarching drivers that explain this perception gap.

Suggested Citation
Ishaq, M., Speiser, M. (April 2026). American Climate Perspectives Survey 2026. Vol I. Trust, Media Habits, and Misperceptions Shape Public Understanding of Climate Change. Americans Underestimate How Much Others Care About Climate Change. ecoAmerica. Washington, DC.

© 2026 ecoAmerica. The contents of this report may be shared and used under a Creative Commons Attribution Non Commercial NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

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