There is a large gap between people’s interest in climate activism and their self-reported actions. Social norms are linked with increased follow-through. First, there is a big difference between those who say that they “definitely” or “probably” would take an action. Americans who follow through on climate activism tend to feel more social pressure to do so.

The 2024 Community Power Scorecard from the Institute for Local Self-Reliance provides a measure of state policies related to energy democracy and utility accountability. State scores suggest lawmakers must take immediate action to improve. Of the 50 states and D.C., only one state scraped an above average grade (a B), 11 hit the C average, 13 received Ds, and 26 states received a failing F grade. This annual scorecard goes beyond greenhouse gas reductions or renewable generation capacity to evaluate how state policies help or hinder local clean energy action.

Voters are largely unaware that the Supreme Court weakened the Clean Water Act, and overwhelmingly want to restore protections for wetlands and waterways. The most effective messaging on the topic emphasizes how wetland protections help to ensure access to clean and safe water. 86% of voters agree that farmers should be subject to clean water requirements to help protect downstream water quality. 80% of voters are concerned that the Supreme Court narrowed the scope of the Clean Water Act.

Voters distrust fossil fuel companies and the politicians that they fund, and want to see fossil fuel companies held accountable for their pollution. 84% of voters are concerned about oil and gas companies making large profits while consumers face rising energy bills. 78% of voters agree that “oil and gas companies that knew about the polluting impact of burning fossil fuels, but that intentionally misled the public about it, should be held accountable”.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling about President Biden’s record on climate change and clean energy + new research on messaging about electric vehicles.

HEADLINES

Is the Inflation Reduction Act, passed nearly two years ago, doing what it set out to do? In this episode, Trevor Houser of the Rhodium Group compares the predictions of pre-IRA energy-sector models to the real-world data on clean-energy investment since its passage.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on climate change as an issue in the presidential election, new polling on the Inflation Reduction Act, and new polling on EPA standards for particle pollution and vehicle emissions.

HEADLINES

Climate Power

The Inflation Reduction Act provides an unprecedented opportunity to foster more equitable participation in clean energy development and channel resources into historically marginalized communities. Because of the IRA’s Direct Pay provision, nonprofits, and state, local, and Tribal governments can now access tax credits over 10 years for clean energy projects in underserved communities. This democratizes energy, unlocking the potential for diverse entities across the U.S. to own clean energy assets as a wealth-building opportunity.

Climate and the environment rank among President Biden’s largest issue advantages over Trump. 76% of voters support protecting the environment and addressing climate change, including 47% who “strongly” support it. 75% of voters support investing in clean energy technologies, including 43% who “strongly” support it.