Breaking the climate silence: Predictors of discussing global warming with family and friends

Climate change is a pressing issue that requires action across multiple levels, from individual behavior to international cooperation. On the individual level, one of the easiest and most important actions people can take is to talk about climate change. However, relatively few Americans engage in climate change discussions with family and friends, creating what has been referred to as “climate silence”. Here we investigate factors that predict how often people have these discussions. Using data from three recent waves of a nationally representative survey of American adults, we find that worry, perceived risk, perceived social norms (descriptive and injunctive), perceived scientific consensus, and exposure to media coverage of global warming all significantly predict discussion of global warming with family and friends. We conclude with suggestions that can stimulate climate conversations.