The type of community Americans live in seems to have little bearing on key climate perspectives. Rural (75%), Suburban (79%), and Urban Americans (84%) are equally aware that climate change is happening, including noticing more severe and changing seasonal weather. High majorities across all community types believe urgent action is needed to reduce the pollution that is causing climate change. They also all believe that the U.S. should produce more wind and solar energy, and less coal. This consensus constitutes a strong foundation of public support for solutions.

Urban Americans report being more impacted by record heat waves (64%), hardships for poorer families (57%), and damage from extreme weather (53%) than do their Rural and Suburban neighbors. Similarly, when looking to the future, Urban Americans are most likely to believe they and those around them will be harmed by climate change, at variances of 13- to 16- points higher than Rural.

Although a majority are concerned about climate change, Urban Americans are 12- to 13-points more concerned than their Rural and Suburban neighbors. When asked if they believe people around them are concerned, Americans reported believing that fewer are as concerned as they. The highest variance in perception of concern is among Urbans (21-points between personally concerned vs. others), followed by Rural (19-points), then Suburban (8-points).

While Americans overall value speaking out on climate change, Urbans place higher importance on speaking out to their family, electeds, friends and co-workers, sometimes 20-point more than Rural.

Who Americans trust for guidance on climate issues varies significantly depending on the type of community in which they live. Health professionals stand as the most trusted (55% Suburban, 62% US 2018, 65% Rural, 66% Urban) for guidance on climate change, followed by the media, and local community leaders. Trust is lowest for The President and federal elected officials, however Rural Americans are over twice as likely (36%) to trust the President than Urban Americans (15%).

Note that this analysis did not address the effect on climate views of other factors (such as political beliefs and race) that are also related to the urban/rural divide.