Sorry Greta, CNN’s Own Data Guy Admits Americans Just Aren’t Buying It [WATCH]

CNN senior data reporter Harry Enten said Thursday that polling data shows most Americans are not overly concerned about climate change or the risk of becoming a victim of a natural disaster, despite ongoing efforts by some public figures and lawmakers to tie recent weather events—like the deadly Central Texas flood—to climate-related causes.

Enten’s analysis came during a CNN segment in which he broke down recent Gallup polling showing that 40% of Americans say they are “greatly worried about climate change”—a figure that has dropped six percentage points since 2020 and remains unchanged from levels recorded in 2000.

“Are Americans concerned of climate change, and the answer is, Americans aren’t afraid of climate change,” Enten said.

“Climate activists have not successfully made the case to the American people.”

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Using historical polling data going back to 1989, Enten explained that concern about climate change has fluctuated slightly over the decades but has remained largely stable.

In 1989, 39% of Americans said they were greatly worried about climate change.

That figure rose to 46% in 2020 but has since returned to 40%, matching its level from the year 2000.

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“These numbers haven’t moved despite all of these horrible weather events,” Enten said.

“The percentage of Americans that are greatly worried about climate change has stayed pretty gosh darned consistent.”

In addition to views on climate change, Enten cited Gallup polling showing that fewer Americans today worry about being victims of natural disasters.

In 2006, 38% of Americans said they often or sometimes worried about natural disaster risks. That number has now dropped to 32% in 2025.

He also highlighted data showing that only a minority of Americans from any political party believe climate change will make it harder to live in their local area.

According to Enten, only 6% of Republicans, 16% of Independents, and 27% of Democrats said climate change would make staying in their area more difficult.

“Look at this, all adults, it’s just 17%. The GOP is 6%, Independents is 16%, even Democrats here, it’s just 27% of Democrats who say that climate change will make it harder to stay in our area,” Enten said.

“And it is the exact same thing that we see here, ‘when you’ll be a natural disaster victim.’ Under 50% of Democrats, Republicans and Independents believe that in fact, they could be, or at least worry about the chances that they’ll be a natural disaster victim.”

The polling was released amid political debate following the devastating Central Texas flood, which has killed over 120 people, including 27 children attending Camp Mystic, a Christian summer camp for girls located in Kerr County. At least 150 individuals remain missing as of Thursday.

In the wake of the flood, several Democrats and public figures have attempted to link the disaster to climate change.

During a Sunday segment of State of the Union, CNN’s Dana Bash and Texas Representative Joaquin Castro suggested that fossil fuels and climate change may have played a role.

Others, such as television personality Bill Nye, have echoed similar sentiments.

However, historical records of severe floods throughout U.S. history cast doubt on the novelty of such events. According to History.com, the Johnstown Flood of 1889 in Pennsylvania killed more than 2,200 people after 16 million tons of water surged into the town.

Similarly, the Mississippi River Flood of 1927 claimed the lives of at least 250 people and displaced hundreds of thousands.

The ongoing search and recovery operations in Texas continue as local, state, and federal agencies coordinate efforts.

The broader conversation about climate change’s role in such disasters remains a point of political contention, with public opinion—according to current polling—remaining largely unchanged.