Most Americans Not Afraid of Climate Change, Says CNN Analyst

CNN’s chief data analyst, Harry Enten, expressed surprise that a majority of Americans seem to lack fear regarding climate change. During a segment on “CNN News Central,” he remarked, “Are Americans afraid of climate change? The answer is, they aren’t.” He noted that climate activists have not effectively made their case to the American public.

Enten referenced data that spans back to 1989 on public sentiment regarding climate concerns. Back then, about 35% of Americans were “very worried” about climate change. This figure rose to 40% in 2000. In 2020, there was another peak at 46%, yet by 2025, that number had declined to 40%.

Despite significant weather events—like the recent flooding in Texas that led to at least 100 deaths—Enten shared that a “clean proportion” of Americans remain unconcerned about climate issues. It’s a bit perplexing, really.

On July 4th, those Texas floods not only devastated the region but also highlighted the urgent need for improved emergency response systems. Governor Greg Abbott has since called for a special session to establish laws aimed at enhancing flood response protocols in vulnerable areas of Texas.