Ecology
Attitudes toward climate change

Attitudes toward climate change

This survey explores how people perceive climate change: level of concern, confidence about causes, whether impacts feel noticeable, information sources and trust in them, readiness for personal actions, and which conditions could support more sustainable behavior.

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The Attitudes toward climate change survey captures what people believe, feel and trust about a warming planet. It reveals how concerned they are, what they think causes climate change, whether they notice its impacts locally, and which sources they rely on for information. Use it to map public opinion and design communication that meets people where they are.

What the “Attitudes toward climate change” survey measures

The template measures the level of concern about climate change and which belief statement fits best — from human activity as the main cause to doubt that the climate is changing noticeably. It gauges how strongly people notice local impacts and which consequences worry them most: extreme weather, health risks, higher prices, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, economic risks or the future of children. It maps where people get climate information (news, social media, popular science, experts, official sources) and how much they trust each source, from scientists and weather services to brands and bloggers. A readiness scale for everyday actions and a question on which measures would help most complete the picture.

Who the “Attitudes toward climate change” template is for

It suits environmental NGOs and advocacy groups, government and municipal communication teams, researchers and pollsters, universities and schools, media and science communicators, and sustainability or ESG functions. It also works for foundations shaping climate campaigns, or brands wanting to understand audience beliefs before launching green messaging.

How to adapt the template to your needs

Adjust it to your context. Localise the impacts list to hazards common in your region, add sources specific to your media landscape, or refine the belief statements for your audience. Turn the trust matrix into fewer or more sources, extend the everyday-action list, and use branching so people who doubt climate change get different follow-ups from those who are highly concerned. Adapt the measures list to the interventions your organisation or policy actually offers.

Questions and answer options

Question type: single choice.
Answer options:
— Very concerned
— Rather concerned
— Rather not concerned
— Not concerned at all
— Hard to say
Question type: single choice.
Answer options:
— The climate is changing, and human activity is the main cause
— The climate is changing, but the causes are mostly natural
— The climate is changing, but I’m not sure about the causes
— I’m not sure the climate is changing noticeably
— Hard to say
Question type: single choice.
Answer options:
— I clearly notice them
— I rather notice them
— I rather don’t notice them
— I don’t notice them at all
— Hard to assess
Question type: multiple choice.
Answer options:
— Extreme weather (heat, heavy rain, storms, droughts)
— Health risks (heat waves, air quality)
— Higher prices for food and goods
— Water scarcity
— Damage to nature and biodiversity
— Risks to the economy and infrastructure
— The future of children and next generations
— None of the above
— Hard to say
Question type: multiple choice.
Answer options:
— News (TV/websites/apps)
— Social media
— Popular science content (books, lectures, podcasts)
— Scientists/expert commentary
— Friends/family/colleagues
— Official sources (weather services, government bodies)
— I hardly follow this topic
Question type: multiple rating.
Answer options:
— Scientists and scientific organizations
— National/regional weather services
— International organizations (e.g., the UN)
— NGOs and environmental organizations
— Government authorities
— Companies and brands
— Social media and bloggers
Question type: single-answer matrix.
Answer options:
— Save electricity at home (lights, appliances)
— Use a car less often when there are alternatives
— Reduce food waste (planning, storage)
— Choose products with less packaging
— Use reusables instead of single-use items
— Learn more about how to reduce my personal impact (reliable sources)
Question type: multiple rating.
Answer options:
— Clear guidance on what really works (without unnecessary complexity)
— Affordable eco-friendly alternatives
— Convenient infrastructure (recycling, public transport, bike lanes)
— Financial incentives (discounts/subsidies/bonuses)
— Clear information about the impact of products and services (simple labels)
— Support at work/school (conditions, services, rules)
— Local initiatives and communities (events, volunteering, sharing)

Similar survey templates

Frequently asked questions

Yes. A dedicated statement question lets people pick the view closest to theirs — the climate is changing and human activity is the main cause, the causes are mostly natural, the causes are unclear, or doubt that the climate is changing noticeably.
A trust matrix rates how much people trust scientists and scientific organisations, national or regional weather services, international bodies like the UN, NGOs, government authorities, companies and brands, and social media and bloggers.
It asks which consequences worry respondents most, including extreme weather like heat, storms and droughts, health risks, higher prices for food and goods, water scarcity, damage to nature and biodiversity, economic and infrastructure risks, and the future of next generations.
A dedicated question captures the main sources — news on TV, websites or apps, social media, popular science content, scientists and expert commentary, friends and family, and official sources like weather services and government bodies.