This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on the climate and clean energy provisions in President Biden’s proposed budget, new polling on Congressional Republicans’ H.R. 1 energy package, and new polling about who voters blame for the East Palestine disaster and high gas prices.

Voters support the core climate and environmental provisions in President Biden’s proposed budget. 60% of voters say that President Biden’s proposed investments in American manufacturing of clean energy technologies should remain in the budget, while just 25% want to cut these investments. 59% of voters say that President Biden’s proposed investments to reduce energy costs by investing in clean energy and weatherization should remain in the budget, while just 27% want to cut these investments. 56% of voters say that President Biden’s proposed investments to cut plastic and air pollution (especially in at-risk communities) should remain in the budget, while just 28% want to cut these investments. 55% of voters say that President Biden’s proposed investments in clean energy infrastructure in rural communities should remain in the budget, while just 29% want to cut these investments.

Voters overwhelmingly support stronger railroad oversight in the wake of the East Palestine disaster. Voters are more likely to attribute higher gas prices to corporate greed than to environmental regulations. 77% of voters support legislation to provide more oversight into railroad carriers and improve industry safety regulations, including majorities of Democrats, independents, and Republicans.

In Cleveland, OH, the nonprofit Cleveland Owns is incubating the state's first community-owned solar developer, Cleveland Solar Cooperative, which was the subject of a recent case study funded by the Climate Advocacy Lab. 

On the call, organizers shared lessons learned, their motivations to keep at this work, and best practices for groups around the country working to build community-owned solar arrays. The insights shared in this webinar will inform advocates working to start community-owned solar projects, provide practical tips for groups building relationships with the goal of taking action for climate justice, and introduce attendees to a national network of organizations that support projects like this around the country.

Solving complex social problems offers unique challenges—here are lessons from “social-change makers” for fellow leaders. First, a critical step to build trust is to center the voices and perspectives of those most affected by inequitable systems themselves. Second, given constraints in human capacity, consider experimenting by hiring differently, deploying talent differently, and surrounding yourself with people who think differently than you. Third, measure your impact—use principles that center equity and learning, track the state of the field’s development, monitor your progress, and don’t forget the health of your own organization. Fourth, be sure to find balance between long-term visioning and planning and short-term action.

Even with modest beginnings, “systems-change organizations” seek world-changing outcomes. But solving complex social problems is uniquely challenging. This resource surveyed “field catalysts” aiming for systems change across a variety of issues, including health equity, gender-based violence, climate change, and education. It found that their work could be accelerated with the right support from funders. Because these organizations consistently punch far above their weight, 87% of field catalysts believe they would achieve their systems-change goals within just two decades if provided the necessary resources and consistent support. This resource also profiles some organizations, including IllumiNative, Harambee Youth Employment Accelerator, South African National AIDS Council, Community Solutions, Health Care Without Harm, Movement for Black Lives, Families and Workers Fund, and more.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on the climate-related provisions in the White House budget proposal, new polling on environmentally responsible investing, and new polling on the EPA’s proposed soot standards.

Voters want to see stronger clean air standards from the EPA, with annual and daily soot limits that meet the recommendations of the EPA’s scientific advisors. Voters reject the argument that stricter standards would hurt the economy and drive up energy prices. By a 74%-16% margin, voters support the EPA updating air pollution standards by placing stricter limits on soot. After learning that the EPA’s proposed new soot standards are not as strict as the standards recommended by the EPA’s scientific advisors, voters support moving to the stricter standards recommended by the EPA’s scientific advisors by a 65%-20% margin.

Voters support all of the major climate-related provisions in President Biden’s budget proposal. 62% of voters support President Biden’s proposal to invest $24 billion dollars in community climate resilience against floods, wildfires and storms. 61% of voters support President Biden’s proposed investments to help address climate change, such as measures to create clean energy jobs, fund climate research and strengthen communities affected by natural disasters related to climate change. 53% of voters support President Biden’s proposed investments to help meet the White House goal of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 50%-52% by 2030.

Most recently, about 1 in 4 (26%) Americans are "Alarmed" about climate change. They outnumber the "Dismissive" (11%) by more than 2 to 1. Since the last Six Americas report, the "Alarmed" segment has decreased by 7 percentage points (from 33% in September 2021), however, the majority of Americans (53%) are still either "Alarmed" or "Concerned," while fewer than half that number (22%) are either "Doubtful" or "Dismissive."