This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling about U.S. climate goals and policies, new polling on polluter accountability, new data from Yale + GMU’s “Global Warming's Six Americas” study, and new findings about young Americans and climate change in the 2024 election.
HEADLINES
CNN + SRSS
Americans widely back President Biden’s goal to cut climate pollution in half by the end of the decade; among possible climate actions, Americans particularly prioritize energy efficiency and the development of clean energy [Article, Topline + Crosstabs]
Yale + GMU
A growing majority of Americans are “Alarmed” or “Concerned” about global warming [Article]
Fossil Free Media + Data for Progress
Nearly two-thirds of voters support legislation to make polluters pay for climate damages [Article, Crosstabs]
[Youth] CIRCLE
Young people who feel threatened by climate change and want government action are highly motivated to vote [Website, Report]
KEY TAKEAWAYS
The public is on board with the goal of cutting U.S. climate pollution in half by 2030. New polling by CNN and SRSS finds that nearly three-quarters of Americans, including half of Republicans, support designing federal climate policy around President Biden’s stated goal of cutting U.S. climate pollution by 50% by 2030.
“Polluters pay” continues to resonate as a common-sense climate solution. The idea of making polluters pay for their damages is one of the most consistently popular concepts in environmental polling, and new polling from Fossil Free Media and Data for Progress finds that the clear majority of voters support federal legislation that will hold climate polluters accountable. Additionally, voters are prepared to reward political candidates who make it a focus: the majority of voters say that they are more likely to vote for a candidate who prioritizes “polluters pay” legislation.
GOOD DATA POINTS TO HIGHLIGHT
[Climate Action] 73% of Americans agree that the federal government should design its climate policies to meet the announced goal of cutting the country’s greenhouse gas emissions in half by the year 2030 [CNN + SRSS]
[Climate Action + Clean Energy] 71% of Americans say that prioritizing investments in clean energy sources over energy from fossil fuels should be a “top” or “important” priority for the government [CNN + SRSS]
[Climate Action + Energy Efficiency] 71% of Americans say that offering federal tax credits for purchasing and installing ultra-efficient home heating and cooling systems should be a “top” or “important” priority for the government [CNN + SRSS]
[Climate Action] 58% of Americans say that the federal government is doing too little to try to reduce climate change [CNN + SRSS]
[Climate Action] 58% of Americans say that the energy industry is doing too little to try to reduce climate change [CNN + SRSS]
[Climate Concern] 63% of Americans are worried about the risks of climate change in their community [CNN + SRSS]
[Polluter Accountability] 66% of voters support a bill that would require oil and gas companies to pay a share of the cost of climate damages caused by their pollution [Fossil Free Media + Data for Progress]
[Polluter Accountability + Elections] 64% of voters are more likely to support a candidate for office who prioritizes requiring oil and gas companies to pay a share of the cost of climate damages caused by their pollution [Fossil Free Media + Data for Progress]
[Issue Priority] More American say that climate change and the environment is the single “most important issue” to them than any other issue aside from inflation/prices, health care, and the economy/jobs [The Economist + YouGov]