A Concern About Climate Change Is Not a Minority Viewpoint (But It Might Feel Like It)?

A Yale University Climate Change Communication poll found that 66-80% of Americans support climate policies. A subsequent nationwide survey of 6,000 Americans, however, recently asked respondents to estimate the percentage of fellow countryfolk "at least somewhat concerned about climate change". The poll also requested participants to put a figure on the percentages of Americans, who would be likely to support specific climate policies (like the Green New Deal) (https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/sep/01/us-voters-assume-fellow-americans-dont-favor-climate-bills). The average American, in the second survey, estimated that only 37-43% of the public support 'green' policies. This underestimate of concern by their compatriots for climate change and support for 'green' policies, occurred irrespective of the respondent's political orientation; education; age; race; media preferences and income. This false social reality has been termed 'pluralistic ignorance'. It probably comes about become because the views of climate change deniers, certain politicians, media 'stars' and self-interested 'industrialists' gets more traction than it actually deserves. Most Americans are concerned about climate change and each is far from being on their own. The same is also likely to be true of most other nations, where there is a free flow of information. Climate change mitigation needs collective action and it seems there is, at least, collective will.