Climate change denial, also known as climate denial or global warming denial, is the rejection of or unwarranted doubt about the well-established scientific consensus that human activity is causing climate change and global warming.
Beyond disputing the existence of climate change itself, denial can take several forms. Some deny its severity, minimize its potential consequences, or question the extent to which human activity is responsible. In every case, such arguments weaken the perceived urgency of taking meaningful action to address the crisis.
Political, economic, and ideological motivations often shape climate change denial. Certain politicians, particularly those representing regions economically dependent on fossil fuels, have strong incentives to resist climate science and related policies. Protecting jobs, tax revenues, and industry support can serve their short-term political interests. While outright rejection of climate science has become less common, many now frame their opposition around claims that climate policies would harm the economy or be impractical. This rhetoric is frequently paired with misinformation about renewable energy and with efforts to exploit cultural and political divisions, turning climate policy into a polarizing political issue.
The fossil fuel industry plays a central role in sustaining climate change denial. To protect profits, major companies have spent vast sums on campaigns designed to mislead the public by creating doubt about scientific conclusions or portraying climate change as exaggerated or even a hoax. These industries also fund extensive lobbying to influence legislation and preserve favorable regulatory environments.
Such disinformation campaigns are not unique to climate change. The tobacco industry, for example, long invested heavily in misleading the public about the health risks of smoking, including its links to lung cancer and heart disease. Both cases demonstrate how industry-funded doubt can delay action despite overwhelming scientific evidence.
Despite these obstacles, public attitudes toward climate change are continuing to shift. Recent surveys reveal growing awareness and concern. A 2025 national poll found that 48 percent of Americans believe global warming poses a serious threat to their lives or way of life, up from 44 percent the previous year, and about 63 percent say the effects of global warming have already begun. Younger generations, particularly Generation Z (born 1997 through 2012) and Millennials (1981 to 1996), tend to show higher levels of concern and stronger emotional engagement with the issue than older generations. Other research finds that large majorities of younger adults worldwide are deeply worried about climate change and that feel personally affected by its effects.
Political differences remain, but are evolving. In the United States, a 2025 survey showed that 69 percent of Republicans under 45 expressed concern about climate change, compared with 46 percent of older Republicans, bringing younger conservatives closer to the national average. This trend indicates that climate change is becoming a broadly recognized personal and political issue, even among groups traditionally more skeptical. Together, these changes suggest a gradual but meaningful shift in public opinion, driven largely by younger generations and growing firsthand awareness of climate change effects.