This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on federal government cuts, a new edition of Colorado College’s long-running “Conservation in the West” survey, and recent polling on extreme weather in California.

California voters blame climate change and corporate greed for the rise in their home insurance costs, and most support legislation that would enable individuals and insurance companies to hold fossil fuel companies responsible for climate-related damages. The majority of voters in the state (57%), including 37% of Republicans, say that the fossil fuel industry is at least “somewhat” responsible for the recent L.A. wildfires. By a two-to-one margin, Californians support legislation that would allow individuals and insurance companies to hold oil and gas companies responsible for climate-related damages. Californians support this proposed legislation (SB 222) by a 60%-30% margin. The idea earns substantial support from all corners of the California electorate, with 78% of Democrats, 49% of independents, and 42% of Republicans in favor of it.

Since 2018, the Climate Advocacy Lab has distributed Climate Justice Microgrants to 25 environmental justice and climate justice organizations around the United States who are doing powerful work to protect and improve their communities.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on climate impacts, the California wildfires, and disaster preparedness.

Most voters believe that climate change contributed to California’s recent wildfires. Around three in five voters (58%) believe that climate change contributed to California’s recent wildfires. There is also a dramatic partisan split, with more than four in five Democrats (85%) and the majority of independents (54%) saying that climate change played a role in the wildfires while only 36% of Republicans believe so.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on recent hurricanes and the government’s disaster response, new polling on renewable energy and grid expansion, and new state polls about energy issues in Pennsylvania, California, and Texas.

Voters in California and Texas both overwhelmingly agree that their states should be doing more to encourage solar power; voters see clear benefits of solar power for grid reliability, the economy, and costs. In California: Solar power – 85% agree that their utility should be using more; Wind power – 78%; Offshore wind power – 72%; Natural gas power – 57%; Nuclear power – 52%. In Texas: Solar power – 73% agree that their utility should be using more; Wind power – 69%; Natural gas power – 67%; Nuclear power – 50%; Coal power – 40%. Accordingly, large majorities in both California (85%) and Texas (71%) agree that their state’s policymakers should be doing more to encourage the use of solar power. In both states, there is a potent argument that solar can help to make an outdated electric grid more resilient and reliable.

Individual and household economic precarity is increasingly important in the context of the climate crisis. The household finances of low-income and communities of color are already experiencing impacts “first and worst. California created the CalAccount program, a free and accessible public option for basic financial transactions. Key features of the CalAccount program include: accessibility for individuals who may not have government-issued photo identification and individuals who do not have permanent housing; enabling and streamlining remittance of local, state, and federal benefit and public assistance payments; enabling payroll direct deposit; establishing a process and terms and conditions for registered payees; and requiring landlords to allow a tenant to pay rent and security deposits by electronic funds from CalAccount. As a free public option for Californians to access their money, CalAccount would significantly improve the financial resilience of vulnerable households in the context of climate (and other) hazards.

California has been investing in a clean energy transition for decades, and, in recent years, has increasingly targeted funds to under-resourced and marginalized communities. Other states and the federal government have likewise stepped up. There is much to learn from California’s considerable experience. Our report series analyzes California’s decision-making structures — the processes that determine priorities and the mechanisms that turn broad justice principles into action. Our analysis and recommendations are intended to improve California’s programs, help emerging state programs consider the strengths and weaknesses of California’s institutional landscape, and influence emerging federal funding mechanisms.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including on the infrastructure required for the electric vehicle transition and Californians supporting climate action at the state level.