Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, Ph.D.

Anthony Leiserowitz, Ph.D., is the JoshAni-TomKat Professor of Climate Communication at the Yale School of the Environment and the founder and director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Leiserowitz is an expert in public climate change beliefs, risk perceptions, policy support, and behavior, with a focus on the psychological, cultural, and political factors that influence them. Trained as a geographer, he specializes in the cognitive and social psychology of risk perception and decision-making. His interdisciplinary research examines the psychological, cultural, political, and geographic factors that shape human environmental perception, decision-making, and behavior. Leiserowitz conducts research in the United States, China, India, Brazil, Indonesia, and Ireland.

Leiserowitz developed the "Global Warming's Six Americas" framework, a research initiative that has influenced how scientists, policymakers, and communicators approach public engagement with climate change. This analysis segments the U.S. public into six distinct audiences—Alarmed, Concerned, Cautious, Disengaged, Doubtful, and Dismissive—each responding differently to climate change. The Six Americas framework is used by governments, media, educators, and advocates worldwide. His program also produces the "Yale Climate Opinion Maps," a tool that uses statistical modeling to estimate public understanding and policy support for climate change across all 50 states, 435 Congressional districts, more than 3,000 counties, and individual cities. Leiserowitz also conducted the first global study of public values, attitudes, and behaviors regarding sustainable development.

Leiserowitz has published more than 400 scientific articles, chapters, and reports, and has collaborated with organizations such as the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, National Academy of Sciences, Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, Harvard Kennedy School, United Nations Development Program, Gallup World Poll, and World Economic Forum. He serves as a board member of the KR Foundation and as an advisor to the UN Foundation, Ad Council, Years of Living Dangerously, and the China Center for Climate Change Communication.

Leiserowitz has received honors including the Friend of the Planet Award from the National Center for Science Education, the Mitofsky Innovator Award from the American Association of Public Opinion Research, the Stephen H. Schneider Award for Outstanding Climate Science Communication from Climate One, and an Environmental Innovator award from the Environmental Protection Agency. He has been recognized among the most cited social scientists globally. Leiserowitz is also the host of "Climate Connections," a radio program broadcast daily on nearly 800 frequencies nationwide. His work in climate communication, public opinion research, and environmental psychology contributes to the global conversation on climate change and sustainability.