Rising Tide

Climate Change and Its Intersection With Environmental Justice

In the face of accelerating climate change,1 the imperative for environmental justice has never been more urgent. As global temperatures rise and shift across geographies, rates of food insecurity, air- and water-quality issues, extreme weather events, and other climate-related impacts become more frequent,2 3 and communities made marginalized bear a disproportionate burden.4

In April 2024, the AAMC Center for Health Justice conducted a poll with a nationally representative sample (n= 3,207) of U.S. adults that focused, in part, on gauging their perspectives on climate change, its impacts, and actions that could be taken to mitigate it. A Center brief published in June 2024 reported data from this poll related to environmental justice. Since climate change, environmental hazards, and injustices will have an outsized impact on younger generations and their future, this brief presents complementary findings from an open-ended survey of 14- to 17-year-olds (n=102) conducted in partnership with MyVoice, an entity created to give young people a way to share their perspectives and opinions on a variety of issues and concerns.5

Climate Change as a Problem

Among U.S. adults, a clear majority (72% overall, including 91% of liberals, 78% of moderates, and 55% of conservatives) acknowledge climate change is a problem, with nearly half (47%) considering it a significant one. Nineteen percent of U.S. adults say either climate change is not a problem at all (7%), that climate change is not real (4%), or have no opinion (8%). 

Despite the consensus that climate change is a problem, perceptions of its severity vary across certain demographic groups: Women, self-identified liberals, urban-dwelling adults, and those with more years of education are all more likely to believe that climate change is a significant problem (Figure 1).

Personal Concerns Around Impacts of Climate Change

Most U.S. adults (63%) believe that climate change will affect them and their families within their lifetime, with 62% expecting impacts in their city or town and 59% anticipating impacts at the neighborhood level. Hispanic (76%) and Black (72%) adults express significantly higher concern about impacts on them and their families, compared with white adults (61%), while adults in the Northeast (66%) and West (65%) are notably more concerned than are those in other regions (See Supplemental Table 1).

When teens were asked a similar question about how their future will be impacted by climate change, 85% expressed being “somewhat” or “very” worried, and that food shortages and access, air and water quality, extreme heat, floods, droughts, and rising sea levels contributed to those worries. 

Are you worried about the impacts of climate change on your future? Why or why not?

“Yes, I am worr[ied] that there will be more people than food or water access. Based on the data we know now, we have already seen extreme weather patterns of floods, heat waves, etc.”

 

“Yes, because even in my short life, I've started to see the effects [of climate change].”

 

“Yes, I'm chronically ill and cannot be in hot areas, and so it's getting worse.”

 

“Yes, because the data suggests [that] without major change, we're kinda screwed.”

Concerns About Six Key Climate Change Issues

A majority of those who express concern about the personal impacts of climate change also worry about each of the six specific climate change impacts presented (Figure 2). Across racial groups, more American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian (88%), Asian American (87%), Hispanic (82%), and Black (80%) populations report being “somewhat” or “very” concerned about extreme heat, compared with white adults (78%). Adults in the western United States (83%) and those who live in urban areas (85%) are most concerned about air-quality issues (see Supplemental Table 2).

A similar question was posed to teens, who voiced concerns about weather events like extreme heat, floods, droughts (41%), negative impacts on their quality of life and their future (24%), threats to nature such as animal extinctions (6%), and pollution (6%).

How do you think your future will be impacted by climate change, if at all?

“More occurrences of natural disasters, reduced biodiversity, and conflict / scarcity of land and/or resources. Also, probably more food insecurity and poverty worldwide.”

 

“I think that more environmental changes will affect me such as global warming, rising sea levels, and natural disasters.”

 

“I am very worried of the future. I mean, climate change is not going to reverse and will only get worse.” 

Responsibility to Address Impacts of Climate Change

When asked who should bear responsibility for reducing these impacts, a majority of U.S. adults who view climate change as a problem said that private sector (54%), city or local governments (55%), and state governments (63%) bear this responsibility, while 75% believe the federal government holds the responsibility to address this pressing issue (Figure 3).

The majority (57%) of 14- to 17-year-olds identified “the government” at local, state, and federal levels as primarily responsible for addressing the negative impacts of climate change. About 14% of teens mentioned “everyone” has a responsibility to ensure fair and equal protection from the impacts of climate change, with the sentiment that “we all have role to play.” About 6% of the answers called out corporations and companies explicitly.

Who should be responsible for ensuring that everyone in your community has fair and equal protection from the impacts of climate change? Why do you say that?

“I think that at this point climate change needs to be addressed more urgently at a national level. The steps we have taken and the agreements we have signed are not enough. Our federal government and other governments from around the world need to come together and take better actions faster.”

 

“I think that the government should because the government’s job is to serve the people they represent.”

 

“The government and the U.N., for sure. They have the most influence and voice. Otherwise, it will not be as effective and impactful.”

Climate Change and Human Behavior

Half of U.S. adults (49%) who believe climate change is a problem note that “individuals” are responsible for reducing its impacts. To that end, our poll presented respondents with lifestyle changes that could help mitigate climate change impacts and assessed whether respondents were willing to make those changes.

While more than half of respondents said they would limit single-use plastics (58%) and opt for environmentally friendly household cleaning products (55%), other proposed changes were unpopular (Figure 4). Only (25%) said they would increase their use of public transportation, and (24%) said they would eat less red meat. Sixteen percent (16%) of U.S. adults report they are unwilling to make any change to lessen climate change’s impacts. Those unwilling to make lifestyle changes were more likely to identify as conservative (21%), to earn less than $50,000 annually (20%), to have attained less than a college educational level (19%), and to be members of Gen X (19%) (see Supplemental Table 3).

When asked what young people can do to ensure that everyone in their community is fairly and equally protected from the impacts of climate change, the most popular answers among teens were education and awareness raising, including on social media (28%), lifestyle changes such as recycling and reducing energy consumption (23%), and advocacy (21%). Nine percent (9%) of the teens called out voting, specifically.

What action can people your age take to ensure that everyone in your community is fairly and equally protected from the impacts of climate change?

“I think the most people my age can do [is] try to spread more awareness and get people with more power to take action.”

 

“We can all try to help clean up [our] environment and enact cleaner energy and try to eliminate carbon footprints and other pollution.”

 

“Voting for people that support the ideas and values that we support [and] taking charge of educating yourself [are] extremely important and the first step to making effective change.”

 

“I think writing to legislators who can enforce large scale change. Also being mindful about the choices you make and how they can negatively affect the environment although not on as large […] a scale as some companies.”

Next Steps

Adults and youth in the United States who believe climate change is a problem are concerned about its current and future impact on their lives and believe that government holds a prominent role in addressing it. This alignment underscores the urgency of inclusive local, state, and federal policy action that prioritizes environmental and climate justice.

The impacts of climate change vary significantly across communities, oftentimes disproportionately affecting communities made marginalized because of increased exposure to these impacts.6 7 These same communities also face decreased access to the resources needed to address those impacts. A recent polling brief on environmental justice highlighted national perspectives about these inequities, and the Center found broad national support for dealing with these challenges through equitable policy solutions that address systemic issues, to ensure all communities can enjoy a thriving natural world. 

Looking ahead, it is crucial to activate youth and engage them in climate action. We must emphasize that all communities are and will be affected by climate change, not just those currently bearing the brunt. Taking individual action alongside government initiatives is essential for achieving meaningful change and ensuring a sustainable and equitable future for all.

Notably, while both adults and teens express hesitancy in making significant lifestyle changes, young people demonstrate a willingness to take action through additional avenues, such as education and advocacy. Previous Center polling of Generation Z found strong agreement across demographic and political identities that climate change is both an immediate and long-term threat to the planet. Younger generations’ proactive stance and cross-ideological agreement suggests a readiness to contribute to climate solutions and advocate for fairness in environmental protection.

As we navigate the complexities of climate change, creating space for intergenerational dialogue and collaboration becomes essential. By harnessing the energy and commitment of young people alongside adults, we can chart a course toward sustainability and resilience that ensures a fair and secure future for all. Efforts should focus on fostering opportunities that empower young people to drive decision-making on climate action and help realize a climate-resilient society that values equity, justice, and shared responsibility in confronting our global environmental challenges.