Most Americans fear global warming. Here's why few discuss it

A crushing "spiral of silence" keeps Americans from discussing the threat of climate change, a new study has found.

The findings, published on Thursday in PLOS Climate, highlight a dynamic that cuts to the heart of the country’s failure to take significant action to slow climate change.

“When we don't hear an opinion, or we don't hear our thoughts out there, we assume we're in the minority, and we become sort of afraid to speak out about it,” said lead author Margaret Orr, who studies communication at George Mason.