But many people still don’t agree with the consensus science that shows humans are the dominant cause of climate change

Americans, including Republicans, are becoming more convinced that climate change is causing extreme weather and sea-level rise, according to a new poll from Monmouth University.

Nearly two-thirds of Republicans, 64%, now think climate change is happening, compared to 49% three years ago. And more of the general population, 78% compared to 70% three years ago, acknowledge climate change.

Trump on own administration's climate report: 'I don't believe it' Read more

But many people still don’t agree with the consensus science that shows humans are the dominant cause of climate change. Only 29% of people say climate change is more from human activity than natural changes in the environment or some mix of the two.

Monmouth pollster Patrick Murray said he thinks climate-fueled disasters, including the wildfires in California, “have convinced folks that something is going on”. But Republicans tend to be less likely to acknowledge that humans are causing the problem.

He said the conclusion for American political candidates is that “the worse the effects of climate change become the more likely people are to believe in it, which is not a very good thing if you’re trying to stop it”.

The results come as Donald Trump and his key environment officials have been discounting a multi-agency report laying out the wide-scale and immediate risks climate change poses to the country.

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Trump said he doesn’t believe the findings and the top appointees at the environmental protection agency and interior department have questioned the assessment too, saying it focuses on the worst-case scenario. The report investigates what will happen if greenhouse gases from power plants and cars continue to rise through the century in a business-as-usual scenario, but it also warns of serious consequences even if the world manages to rein in pollution sooner.

The administration has also been actively rescinding environment and climate regulations and trying to expand fossil fuel use that causes rising temperatures.

Trump’s position and his efforts are not in line with public opinion, according to the poll. A large majority of Americans support action by the US government to slow climate change. The poll did not, however, ask people about their support of specific strategies that could include increased costs for consumers.