A statewide survey commissioned as part of Indiana University’s Prepared for Environmental Change Grand Challenge initiative indicated that four out of five Indiana residents believed climate change was happening, and three out of four supported efforts to address its impact.

The survey offered state-specific insight into public attitudes as Indiana considered how to respond to environmental changes already being experienced in the state and across the Midwest.

Clear majorities of respondents reported more frequent observations of flooding, agricultural damage, unpredictable weather patterns and infrastructure deterioration, including potholes worsened by erratic freeze-thaw temperatures, according to the university’s statement. Three out of four respondents believed climate change would negatively affect Indiana’s economy, while a significant majority supported measures intended to lessen the impact of environmental events.

Researchers at the Environmental Resilience Institute said the results added evidence for comprehensive, community-based strategies to respond to, mitigate and adapt to climate threats. The institute was established as part of the university’s Prepared for Environmental Change initiative.

At the time of publication, institute representatives said increasingly visible consequences—including flooding, periods of severe cold and risks to farming—were bringing the issue closer to home for Indiana residents.

More than 120 researchers funded through the initiative were working to predict short- and long-term effects, identify adaptation practices and equip policymakers and civic leaders with information for decision-making.

The survey showed differences by political affiliation: 41 percent of Republican respondents reported scientific uncertainty about climate change, compared with 17 percent of Democratic respondents. However, majorities in both groups supported measures to improve the state’s resilience.

Other key findings

  • Sixty-five percent of Indiana residents believed more strongly than they had five years earlier that climate change was happening.
  • Three out of five respondents believed climate change was already harming people in the United States.
  • Two out of three agreed that increased flooding posed a threat to Indiana communities.
  • Majorities agreed that increased drought (59 percent) and hotter summers (64 percent) threatened Indiana agriculture.

Indiana residents also underestimated how widely their neighbors shared these beliefs. Although four out of five respondents believed climate change was happening to some extent, they estimated on average that only about 56 percent of other Indiana residents believed it was happening, whether or not it was caused by human activity.

The institute commissioned a survey of just over 1,000 Indiana residents to measure public opinion on climate change and environmental resilience. Its work with local community leaders addressed practical concerns including flooding, crop failure and invasive species.

The reported margin of error was plus or minus 3 percentage points, with a 95 percent confidence interval.

Archive note

This report records survey findings published in 2019. It is preserved for historical reference and should not be read as a current measure of Indiana public opinion, current university staffing or ongoing program status.