Global Warming’s Six Audiences Around the World
Provided by: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication|Published on: September 23, 2024|Last updated: September 26, 2026
Grades: 9, 10, 11, 12
Type: Articles/Websites
Subjects: Geography
Authors: Jennifer Carman, Marija Verner, Seth Rosenthal, Matthew Ballew, Anthony Leiserowitz, Emily Wood, Erik Thulin, Natalia Ordaz Reynoso, Jennifer Marlon, Nicole Buttermore
Location: Earth, North America > United States
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Learn about our review process →
Synopsis
- This article describes the results of a survey identifying how concerned people are about climate change, categorizing them into six groups or audiences.
- Students will learn how people's concerns in the United States compare to those in the rest of the world, sorted into the categories Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive.
Teaching Materials
Positives
- This article is concise and can be read and discussed in one class period.
- The article includes charts to help students see and understand the data.
Prerequisites
- Students should understand climate change, its causes, and its impacts.
Differentiation & Implementation
- To help students work through big emotions associated with climate change, teachers can use the Climate Emotions Wheel Guide.
- After reading the article, students can brainstorm ways to help others see the gravity of climate change.
- Students can survey their schoolmates and teachers and chart the results, comparing the data from their school to the overall data presented in the article.
The Yale Program on Climate Change Communication is a benchmark for climate change engagement research. Their methods are thorough and go through rigorous peer-review. This resource is recommended for teaching.
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
Scientist Reviewed
This resource has been reviewed by SubjectToClimate's climate scientists and verified for scientific accuracy and up-to-date information. Our review process ensures that every resource in our library reflects the current state of climate science.
Learn about our review process →
