People are more likely to believe an explanation when they see direct evidence of it. In the U.S., the percentage of people who recognize that global warming is happening is higher in counties that experienced record high temperatures in the previous decade. But understanding what’s happening and why also matters. That’s because people’s existing knowledge shapes how they interpret the evidence they see.
We found that in many southern states − such as Alabama, Mississippi and Texas − the correlation between the percentage of bachelor’s degrees at the county level and climate concern was weak. Higher education levels didn’t seem to make much of a difference in how concerned people were about climate change.
However, in northern states − such as Maine, Vermont and Michigan − the education effect was stronger. We believe this difference is in part because climate change is more perceptible in colder states. A 1-degree temperature rise in Florida may not feel significant, whereas in Maine or Wisconsin, it would be more noticeable as winters became shorter and signs of spring came earlier.
We believe the results suggest that higher education helps people who are exposed to perceptible warming shifts better understand the changes they are experiencing; it’s the pairing of both that makes the difference.
We wondered whether political ideology might be driving the trends we were finding. Southern states also tend to be more politically conservative.
When we controlled for political leanings, however, our analysis found that the education effect appeared to be mostly influenced by whether people had experienced perceptible warming in recent years.
There were two outliers: Despite being cold states that have experienced the effects of climate change, North and South Dakota had low education effects when it came to climate concern. One possible explanation is that fossil fuels are central to their economies, shaping local attitudes toward climate change.
Nationally, our study suggests that higher education leverages people’s experience with climate change to increase their climate concern. It isn’t just having a college education alone, as the different results from warmer and colder parts of the country show. It is experiencing rising temperatures that makes the difference. The more perceptible the warming, the greater the effect.
Young people are growing up with climate change
A generation ago, climate change seemed to be more theoretical prediction than common experience for most people in the U.S.
This may be part of the reason why a sense of urgency has been slow to develop, even though three-quarters of Americans recognize that global warming is happening. Generations that grew up in the mid-20th century, when seasons and climate seemed constant, had little reason to expect change.
Younger generations may see the world differently. For them, climate change has been a reality in their developing years. Given their personal experiences and interest in science, we believe higher education will have a powerful effect.
※ Picks respects the rights of all copyright holders. If you do wish to make material edits, you will need to run them by the copyright holder for approval.
more from
The Conversation
The Conversation
Ambitious changes to Canadian conservation law are needed to reverse the decline in biodiversity
2025-04-24 00:00:00
The Conversation
Indicators of alien life may have been found – astrophysicist explains what the new research means
2025-04-23 00:00:00
The Conversation
'Volcanic ash is a silent killer, more so than lava': What Alaska needs to know with Mount Spurr likely to erupt
2025-04-22 00:00:00
The Conversation
'Humanity depends on the ocean'- Here is what we need to prioritize for immediate ocean science research
2025-04-22 00:00:00
BEST STORIES
ETX
Greener weddings: ways to choose more eco-friendly wedding dress
2025-04-19 00:00:00
The Conversation
'Miami researchers are testing a textured seawall designed to hold back water and create a home for marine organisms
2025-04-21 00:00:00
KoreaJoongAngDaily
Of love, peace and BTS: Coldplay 'sings magic for every heart' in Korea
2025-04-20 00:00:00
Inven Global
PUBG MOBILE Teams Up With Godzilla for 7th Anniversary Event
2025-04-18 00:00:00
Lifestyle
The Conversation
Do Inuit languages really have many words for snow? The most interesting finds from our study of 616 languages
2025-04-18 00:00:00
The Conversation
Europe tops global ranking of dynamic and sustainable cities - here's why
2025-04-15 00:00:00
The Conversation
Living in 'garbage time': when 500 million Chinese change their spending habits, the world feels it
2025-04-13 00:00:00
The Conversation
Cities that want to attract business might want to focus less on financial incentives and more on making people feel safe
Higher education can train students to carefully consider the evidence around them. Adam Crowley/Tetra Images/Getty images 
