Issue: Climate Impacts

This post includes a roundup of climate + environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from this week’s public polls – including new polling on the Build Back Better plan, a new report on politics and global warming perceptions from Yale and George Mason, new polls about extreme weather and methane rules, and a summary deck of key messaging and insights from recent climate and clean energy polling.
HEADLINES

Navigator – Fairer taxes, lower prescription drug prices, and expanded Medicare coverage are key rationales for voters to support the Build Back Better plan; most also believe that the bill’s clean energy policies will help people like them (Release, Deck, Topline)
Vox/Data for Progress – Voters continue to support the Build Back Better plan by a two-to-one margin after a brief explanation; majorities also support the CEPP and resist arguments to cut clean energy performance goals from the bill (Article, Topline)
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication & George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication – Global warming has risen as a priority throughout the electorate since the beginning of the year; specific policies to boost renewables, incentivize energy efficiency, and conserve lands and waters have cross-partisan support (Article, Report)
Pew – Two-thirds of Americans perceive a rise in extreme weather; nearly half recall extreme weather in their own area over the past 12 months (Article, Topline)
Environmental Defense Action Fund – New rules to reduce methane emissions from the oil and gas industry have broad public backing, and communicating about new jobs in methane mitigation can enhance support (Memo)
Global Strategy Group – Top messages in favor of climate action and clean energy focus on health, future generations, and rebuilding an economy that works for all Americans (Deck)

This post includes a roundup of climate + environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from this week’s public polls – including new polling on the Build Back Better plan nationally and in key states and new polling on extreme weather events and government action on climate.
 
HEADLINES

Navigator – Voters support the full Build Back Better plan by a roughly two-to-one margin, with intensity clearly on the side of supporters; voters see it as an “urgent” priority when they learn it’s tied to the bipartisan infrastructure bill (Topline)
BlueGreen Alliance – Jobs, water infrastructure, and “made in America” provisions drive support for the Build Back Better plan in AZ, CO, VA, & WV; only half of voters in these key states are hearing about the plan (Release, Deck, AZ Memo, CO Memo, VA Memo, WV Memo)
Quinnipiac – Most Americans say the U.S. isn’t doing enough to address climate change; the Build Back Better plan has majority support even when described as “a spending bill on social programs” (Release)
Monmouth – Nearly two-thirds of Americans support government action to reduce climate change; most see climate change as a major factor in recent western wildfires and eastern floods (Release, Crosstabs)

Using humor in climate change communication can be persuasive to young audiences. A humorous video about climate change made survey respondents less fearful and more likely to perceive grave risks from climate change. However, humor did not increase intentions to engage in activism. Humor did not have any effect on older than their teens or early twenties. The rest of this resource replicated previous research and found no effects of humor or a threatening video on risk perceptions or intentions to engage in activism.