Polling is broken, no doubt about it, but I don’t think it’s so broken as t0 upend a result so clear as the one above.
Overwhelming support for climate action, and only going to grow, as young people are those most in favor.
Record heat, hurricanes, wildfires all have been making news in recent years. And while not everyone agrees events like these are the direct result of climate change, they do connect to peoples’ opinions about it: a big majority of Americans feel the U.S. needs to address climate change, with those who report experiencing extreme weather more likely to say we should do so right now.
Views on climate change have long been associated with partisanship, and they still are, but age is a factor, too. Younger Americans, including younger Republicans, are even more likely to say the U.S. needs to take steps to at least try to slow it.
There’s a sense of urgency from many in the public, too. A large majority think it needs to be addressed at least in the next few years, including half who think it needs to be addressed right now.
There’s the sense that we should address climate change, and there’s also some belief that we can.
That extends down to the personal level, too. Most Americans believe humans can do something to at least slow the effects of climate change, and those who think so feel they personally have a responsibility to do something about it.
People who report having experienced extreme weather in their area in recent years — which is half the country — are more inclined than those who haven’t to believe climate change is a major factor contributing to extreme weather, and more of them see the issue as one that needs to be addressed right away.
And even if people don’t experience the extreme weather themselves, such events can spark concern. When people hear about the earth experiencing the warmest temperatures on record, more than half say it makes them more concerned about climate change. Those who don’t see climate change as a factor in extreme weather are less persuaded by this, including some who don’t believe that the earth’s temperature is rising.
Majorities across all age groups favor the U.S. taking steps to address climate change, but it’s people under age 45 — many who say they were taught about climate change in school — who are especially likely to be in support of the country taking action.
Interesting that the lowest age group, 18-29, is slightly lower about taking steps in regards climate change as the older cohort, 30-44.
So much support for climate action. But then Trump is consistently in a dead heat against Biden, if not ahead of him (ok, based on polls …).
It may seem obvious, but I fear the connection DOES NOT GET MADE ENOUGH: another Trump presidency would be an anti-climate disaster!
Please write letters to your local papers making this point. A lot of people approach presidential elections as a charisma test or popularity contest. They need to hear that another Trump presidency would be a four year anti-climate disaster. And they need to hear that again and again and again. Ditto for a some other big issues, like abortion, respect for election results, etc. But climate is a really big issue with overwhelming support, even for conservatives. People want leaders who are responsible about climate, and that needs to be hammered home.
It would be much longer than just a 4 year disaster. The Republicans plan to gut environmental protections across the board, crippling the EPA among other things, and all that takes some time and lot of effort to rebuild afterwards.
https://www.wbur.org/cognoscenti/2024/03/27/heritage-foundation-project-2025-2024-election-climate-change-frederick-hewett
But, the question for polls shouldn’t just be ‘should we take action’. It should be ‘how important is it to take action’ and ‘what actions should we do’ – and that would really put American priorities in context here. There’s a reason the Republicans keep winning elections despite being hopelessly out of touch on climate change:
“When pollsters ask voters what their top issues are, climate comes in fifth, at best. But more often, it’s far down the list or at the bottom. In a poll conducted last summer, only 27% percent of voters were acquainted with the Inflation Reduction Act, the Biden administration’s marquee climate legislation. And a recent article in the New York Times points out that many voters are unaware of the implications of the sharp divide between the parties on this critical question.”
It would also have global implications:
“But there’s more. Not only does the plan espouse exiting the 2015 Paris Agreement, it suggests quitting altogether the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. That would be a radical rejection of the international community’s collective efforts to address the climate crisis. Withdrawal from the Framework Convention would diminish global capacity for funding climate adaptation while marginalizing the United States in climate negotiations.”
A Trump re-election would be much more than just a 4 year disaster.
Something to listen to on Earth day: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_f5xq6vCQS8
Mercy Mercy Me (the ecology)
Human nature being what it is, I’m not as heartened about people telling pollsters they think more should be done or that they mean to do more themselves. Talk is cheap, and even if people are feeling that way while they’re being faced with the issue, the next commercial advertising cheaper air fares to a vacation getaway or the scene of a shiny SUV climbing the Rockies soon erodes the issue in many minds.
I myself am running out of the low-hanging fruit for reducing my own carbon footprint and there’s an endless supply of rationales why I don’t need to change this or that aspect of my comfortable consumption lifestyle.
Frankly, I’m not sure but what eatin’ drinkin’ and making merry is the thing to do …