Most Democrats with high science knowledge say human activity contributes a great deal to climate change, but there is no parallel among GOP % ofRepublicans or Democrats who say human activity contributes a great deal to global climate change
Partisanship is a stronger factor in people’s beliefs about climate change than is their level of knowledge and understanding about science. In October 2019, roughly nine-in-ten Democrats with a high level of knowledge about science (89%) said human activity contributes a great deal to climate change, compared with 41% of Democrats with low science knowledge, based on an 11-item knowledge index. By contrast, Republicans with a high level of science knowledge were no more likely than those with a low level of knowledge to say human activity plays a strong role in climate change. A similar pattern was found regarding people’s beliefs about energy issues. These findings illustrate that the relationship between people’s level of science knowledge and their attitudes can be complex.
Most Democrats with high science knowledge say  | human activity contributes a great deal to climate  | change, but there is no parallel among GOP  | % ofRepublicans or Democrats who say human activity contributes a great  | deal to global climate change  | Republican  | Democrat  | Among those who have  | science  | science  | Among those who have  | knowledge  | knowledge  | 89  | 74  | 41  | 25  | 25  | 17  | Medium  | High  | Low  | Low  | Medium  | High  | Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who lean toward the  | parties. Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give can answer not shown.  | Levels of science knowledge based on 11-item index in survey conducted Jan. 7-21, 2019  | Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 