what percentage of scientists believe in climate change
Most reputable summaries put the share at about 97% of actively publishing climate scientists agreeing that humans are causing climate change. That figure is usually cited for climate scientists specifically , not for all scientists in every field.
What that means
A few different numbers appear in the public debate because the question is framed differently:
- About 97% : commonly cited for actively publishing climate scientists who endorse human-caused warming.
- Around 82% to 90% : sometimes reported when surveys include broader groups of Earth scientists or other scientists, not just climate specialists.
- Lower numbers : can appear when the survey asks about “all scientists” or uses a stricter definition of belief/support.
Why the numbers differ
The percentage changes based on three things:
- Who is surveyed — climate experts, Earth scientists, or scientists overall.
- What question is asked — whether it asks about warming, human causation, or scientific certainty.
- Whether the survey counts only those who answer directly — some studies exclude respondents who give no opinion, which can raise or lower the final percentage.
Plain-language answer
If you want the simplest accurate answer: roughly 97% of climate scientists agree that climate change is real and mainly caused by humans. If you mean all scientists , the number is less precise and depends on the survey, but it is still generally a large majority.
Bottom line
For a quick post or headline, the safest wording is: “About 97% of climate scientists agree that humans are driving climate change.”
TL;DR: The commonly cited consensus is about 97% among climate scientists , while broader scientist surveys can produce different percentages depending on the sample and question.
