This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies. Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility: Nearly two-thirds of the American public say climate change is increasing the risk of respiratory diseases and heat- and insect-related illnesses, according to a new survey from the Annenberg Public Policy Center (APPC) of the University of Pennsylvania. In September 2026, the U.S.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the past summer, from June through August, had been the warmest in the lower contiguous 48 states in the 132 years records have been kept. The United Nations reported that global sea surface temperatures had "reached an all-time observed high." The policy center's nationally representative Annenberg Science and Public Health (ASAPH) survey, conducted Aug. 4–17, 2026, among 1,904 empaneled U.S. adults, finds that 76% report that extreme outdoor heat affected their daily activities at least sometimes in the past year and 38% say poor air quality resulting from wildfire smoke did so. The American Lung Association's "State of the Air" 2026 report found that 44% of Americans are living in areas that earn "failing grades for unhealthy levels of ozone or particle pollution." Extreme heat is affecting the everyday lives of most Americans, the survey finds.
"Extreme heat is no longer just an occasional inconvenience," said Ken Winneg, APPC's managing director of survey research. "It is affecting Americans' household budgets and daily routines, from electricity bills to simply going outside." Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) say that climate change is increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses, respiratory diseases and insect-borne diseases. This is unchanged from August 2025 (65%) and July 2024 (67%) but is significantly higher than 58% in November 2023.
Americans generally recognize that heat waves are on the rise. Nearly two-thirds (62%) say U.S. heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense than in the past, statistically unchanged from 61% in August 2025, 65% in July 2024 and 58% in November 2023. Of the four extreme weather events measured in the survey, more Americans report that their daily activities were affected at least sometimes by extreme outdoor heat (76%) and poor air quality resulting from wildfire smoke (38%).
As one would expect, fewer say they were affected at least sometimes by flooding (20%) and tornadoes or hurricanes (11%), since these events are less frequent. Experiencing extreme outdoor heat, poor air quality and flooding that affected daily activities in the past year increased the likelihood that respondents believed climate change is increasing the risk of heat-related illnesses, respiratory diseases and insect-borne diseases in the U.S. Nearly half of Americans (46%) say that during the past year they have had unexpected utility expenses caused by storms, flooding, heat or wildfires, statistically unchanged from 45% in August 2025.
Thirteen percent report unexpected homeowner's insurance premium expenses from these causes, down significantly from 18% in August 2025, while 8% report unexpected health care expenses, unchanged from a year earlier. Discover the latest in science, tech, and space with over 100,000 subscribers who rely on Phys.org for daily insights. d research that matter—daily or weekly. Respondents were asked the extent of the impact, if any, that extreme heat has had on their activities and lifestyle over the past year.
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