67% of Americans perceive a rise in extreme weather, but partisans differ over government efforts to address it
46% of U.S. adults say the area where they live has had an extreme weather event over the past 12 months.
Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
46% of U.S. adults say the area where they live has had an extreme weather event over the past 12 months.
Overall, 46% of Americans say the statement “public health officials were unprepared for the outbreak” describes their views extremely or very well, including similar shares of Republicans and Democrats.
Americans offer a lackluster evaluation of how the country has balanced priorities during the coronavirus outbreak. Fewer than half say the country has given the right amount of priority to the needs of K-12 students, public health or quality of life.
There’s a 14-point gap between the shares of White and Black adults in the U.S. who say they have a great deal of confidence in scientists.
Americans are increasingly critical of the response to COVID-19 from elected officeholders and public health officials. Positive ratings of public health officials, such as those at the CDC, have fallen 10 points since August. And 60% of U.S. adults say they’ve felt confused as a result of changes to recommendations on how to slow the spread of COVID-19.
73% say they are vaccinated, but at least half express confusion, concern over vaccine information and health impacts.
Majorities of Americans support an array of measures to address climate change but stop short of a full break with fossil fuels.
Republicans ages 18 to 39 are more likely than their GOP elders to think humans have a large role in climate change.
Majorities of Americans say the United States should prioritize the development of renewable energy sources and take steps toward the country becoming carbon neutral by the year 2050. But just 31% want to phase out fossil fuels completely, and many foresee unexpected problems in a major transition to renewable energy.
There are widely held concerns about the safety and effectiveness of a possible vaccine and the pace of the approval process.
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