This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on Americans’ policy positions on energy and environmental issues, new polling on Americans’ beliefs about the presidential candidates’ stances on energy and the environment, new polling and message testing about the recent hurricanes and disinformation, and a new large-scale survey of young Americans’ climate beliefs.

Polling 201: utilizing public opinion research in your communications ca

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on polluter accountability and new polls of Black voters and young Americans.

Most young Americans care about addressing climate change in their own lives and careers. While few have heard about the American Climate Corps, a large majority are interested in it after learning about it. Four in five Americans aged 18-26 (81%) agree that climate change poses a serious threat to our future – including large majorities of young liberals (92%), young moderates (81%), and young conservatives (67%). Around two-thirds of young Americans (67%) agree that they “want to take more personal actions to address climate change,” and most are attracted to the idea of having a job that allows them to contribute to the cause. Only around one-quarter of young Americans (27%) say that they’ve heard of the American Climate Corps, including just 4% who say that they’ve heard “a lot” about it. After reading about it, around seven in ten (69%) say that they’re interested in serving in the American Climate Corps – including 22% who are “very interested” in the program.

Water pollution is a common concern for Gen Z Americans, and around one-third worry that they will lack clean water and will need to move because of climate change. Majorities of Gen Zers say that they worry “some” or “a great deal” about each of the following: pollution of lakes, rivers and oceans – 72%, including 60% of voting-age Republicans; the health of fish and oceans – 66%, including 59% of voting-age Republicans; the availability of clean drinking water – 57%, including 39% of voting-age Republicans. Additionally, nearly three-quarters of Gen Z Americans (74%) – including 88% of voting-age Democrats and 65% of voting-age Republicans – agree that it’s “very important” to protect oceans, lakes, and rivers from pollution. Around one-third (31%) believe that their generation will “definitely” or “probably” not have enough clean water in the future to live, and 36% are at least “somewhat” concerned that they will have to move from their current town or city because of climate change.

Join Youth Climate Finance Alliance and the Climate Advocacy Lab where we’ll share more about our new “State of the US Youth Climate Movement” Report and Zine." We will review our research methodology, key findings, and how learnings are shaping our shifts in our programming and organizing strategy. With hopes to resource climate advocates to better contextualize the state of the domestic US youth climate movement and its challenges - to intergenerational allies, movement partners, as well as funder networks - we will highlight key case studies and have plenty of time to discuss and reflect You can view the full report (bit.ly/YCFAReport), as well as the zine at bit.ly/YCFAZine.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including lots of new polling and research on extreme heat, polling on climate change and clean energy as issues in the 2024 election, and new polling on the American Climate Corps.

Voters agree that there is a role for national service programs in the fight against climate change, and continue to widely back the American Climate Corps when they learn about it. Voters support the American Climate Corps by an overwhelming 77%-16% margin when provided with a description. The ACC is particularly popular with young voters aged 18-34, with 83% supporting it. By a 53%-35% margin, voters side more with a positive argument in favor of the ACC than a negative argument against it. Young people are most attracted to the ideas of earning a living wage and making a difference in their community.

The Climate Change Empowerment Handbook emphasizes psychological strategies to address climate change.

The "Taking Action & Self Care Worksheets" by ClimateMentalHealth.Net provide tools to help individuals determine their climate action through a personalized Venn diagram.