Clean energy journalism for a cooler tomorrow

Americans blame climate change, not God, for storms

A new survey finds Americans are more likely to attribute increasing severity of natural disasters to climate change, rather than a wrathful God.
By Ken Paulman

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A new survey finds Americans are more likely to attribute increasing severity of natural disasters to climate change, rather than a wrathful God. 

The Public Religion Research Institute surveyed 1,000 people in March. The poll found that:

56% say God is in control of everything that happens in the world
38% say recent natural disasters are a sign from God
44% say recent natural disasters are proof that we’re entering the ​“end times”
58% say severity of natural disasters is evidence of global warming

PRRI says, not surprisingly, that white Evangelicals and Republicans are a departure from this pattern.

Climate scientists have long warned that increased heat and moisture in the atmosphere will lead to more severe weather. And recently, scientists have developed methodology that quantifies the role of global warming in isolated weather events.

The findings are particularly interesting given recent polls finding declining concern about climate change among Americans.

(h/​t Denver Post, via Politico’s Morning Energy)

Photo by Peter Baer via Creative Commons

Ken Paulman is the director of impact at Canary Media. He was previously the founder and director of the Energy News Network, which merged with Canary Media in 2025.

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