Americans have grown more concerned about climate change since before the election, with many saying that Trump’s victory deepened their concerns. 72% of Americans say that they’re at least “somewhat” concerned about climate change, an increase of five points since June. 45% of Americans say that the result of the election made them more concerned about climate change, while just 5% say that it made them less concerned. Overall climate concern among independents has increased by nine points since June (69% at least “somewhat” concerned, up from 60%), and concern among Republicans has increased by four points (56% at least “somewhat” concerned, up from 52%). The large majority of Democrats (68%) say that they have become more concerned about climate change as a result of the election, including more than two in five (43%) who say that their climate concern has increased “a lot” as a result of the election. Meanwhile, two in five independents (40%) and about one-quarter of Republicans (24%) also say that the election results made them more concerned about climate change.

If defending against Congressional efforts to revoke the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), call it a "repeal" of incentives that are lowering costs for Americans, not a "rollback". Poll testing indicates "repeal" generates more opposition. Positive statements about the IRA increase support, especially messages about the jobs and tax savings that have been created. Energy unreliability and air pollution/health impacts are the top reasons to keep the IRA. Even Majorities of Republicans want to keep IRA incentives. There is an overall strong belief that efficiency upgrades would be helpful, and belief in pro-clean energy statements is higher than opposition statements. There is, however, low awareness of local energy investments related to the IRA and low awareness of repeal efforts. Understanding of terminology varies: "Energy justice" & "Energy equity" are not well understood, while "energy efficiency" and "weatherization" are well understood by Americans. Regarding personal behaviors, cost savings are a key motivator of efficiency & electrification upgrades, while upfront costs and uncertainty about qualification are key barriers. Responses are broadly similar across race, though Black voters are slightly more concerned about certain impacts of IRA repeal, while rural voters tend to show slightly less support for IRA policies.

Climate change was one of voters’ top reasons to support Harris over Trump. Polls of the 2024 electorate, both before and after the election, have consistently found that abortion and climate change were Harris’s clearest issue strengths against Trump. Of the issues named in the survey, climate change ranked on par with Project 2025, abortion, and January 6th as the clearest rationales to support Harris rather than Trump: the attack on the U.S. Capitol on January 6th, 2021 – Harris +21; the proposals within Project 2025 – Harris +21; U.S. efforts to fight climate change – Harris +20; the status of abortion laws in the U.S. – Harris +18.

Building narrative power helps to achieve three important things: building a future where frontline narratives are dominant narratives; shifting who owns and run the narrative ‘means of production’; and making community-led policy change and culture change durable. To design narrative research, begin by understanding the narrative landscape within which an issue or dynamic is operating and assessing the collective capacity to drive narrative change; then test narrative interventions, like mini-campaigns. Employ advisors on our research projects is helpful to understand the nuance and complexity of a policy agenda or a lived-experience. Choosing research participants who are typically engaged in the issue area being explored is helpful (for example, organizers with a local organization managing volunteers, a policy advocate for a specific community or issue area, a lawyer who utilizes the legal system to highlight solutions for the challenges workers and migrants face, an artist who uses their craft to raise up voices and awareness). Moreover, interviews are key to understanding what is needed to build and hold a shared understanding of the narrative landscape in which these communities exist.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new findings about the 2024 electorate’s views on climate change and clean energy.

Voters who participated in the election, especially voters of color, overwhelmingly support expanding clean energy and investing in climate resilience. 84% of voters who participated in the election support expanding clean energy investments to create more manufacturing jobs in the U.S. 83% of voters who participated in the election support expanding clean energy investments to lower electricity bills and energy costs. 84% of voters who participated in the election support providing more resources to protect families against the impacts of climate change and to prepare for and recover from future climate disasters. Among Black voters, 92% support providing more resources to protect families against the impacts of climate change and to prepare for and recover from future climate disasters, including 56% who “strongly” support the idea, 91% support expanding clean energy investments as a way to lower electricity bills and energy costs, including 59% who “strongly” support the idea, and 89% support expanding clean energy investments as a way to create more manufacturing jobs in the U.S., including 51% who “strongly” support the idea. Among Latino voters, 90% support expanding clean energy investments as a way to lower electricity bills and energy costs, including 46% who “strongly” support the idea, 90% support expanding clean energy investments as a way to create more manufacturing jobs in the U.S., including 45% who “strongly” support the idea, and 88% support providing more resources to protect families against the impacts of climate change and to prepare for and recover from future climate disasters, including 47% who “strongly” support the idea.

The narratives swirling around us right now are potent, messy, and constantly shifting—and that’s exactly why we need to make sense of them, together. This resource analyzed the narratives leading up to the 2024 election, focusing on economic issues, immigration, voting rights, race and gender justice. The mood and tone in election conversations were agitational, authoritative, urgent, concerned, informative, hopeful and empowering. Core values included equity, accountability, compassion, justice, empowerment, autonomy, integrity, community, safety and security. It is clear movement strategists, organizers and allied formations must: pool resources, invest the time and capacity together, expand reach, and tell better stories.

Voters across the political spectrum would rather see the EPA strengthened than cut, and want to see its new leadership focus on environmental protection rather than repealing regulations. By a 69%-31% margin, voters say that the EPA’s next leader should focus on implementing environmental protections like the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act (69%) rather than focus on repealing regulations and cutting the EPA’s staff and budgets (31%). Voters are far more likely to say that the EPA should be strengthened (50%) or remain the same (36%) than to say that it should be weakened or eliminated (14%). 80% of voters support increasing federal funding to communities that are disproportionately harmed by air and water pollution.

Here is a roadmap based on the social change ecosystem framework for how individuals, collectives, and organizations can try to meet this moment, and prepare for what is ahead. Spend time with anger, grief, and disappointment. Lean into curiosity and reflection. Find local community ecosystems. Map our roles. Pace ourselves with quarterly check-ins.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including findings from the major surveys of voters who participated in Tuesday’s election.