Issue: Climate Policy

Legislation along the lines of the Build Back Better Act is overwhelmingly popular in key U.S. Senate battlegrounds, with clear electoral benefits for incumbents if it passes. On the specific question of how support for this legislation would translate to electoral benefits for incumbents who back it, the poll finds that voters in the four battlegrounds (Nevada, Georgia, New Hampshire, and Arizona) are 23 to 33 points more likely to say that the legislation would make them more inclined to vote for their incumbent than less inclined. 14% of those who do not currently approve of the incumbent say they would be more likely to vote for them if they help pass this legislation. Across the four states, 62% say they would be more motivated and enthusiastic about voting in the elections this November if Congress took action and actually passed this legislation. Democrats in particular would be more motivated to vote (81%), including many Democrats who currently express a lower degree of enthusiasm about voting.

The Civilian Climate Corps (CCC) is strongly appealing to young Americans, who are deeply concerned about climate change but not sure what they can personally do about it. The poll finds that 77% of young Americans aged 18-28 are concerned about climate change. However, when asked about actions they are taking to address climate change, 65% say they “care about climate change” but aren’t sure what they “can do personally to make a difference.” After reading a brief description of the CCC proposal, including its pay (at least $15/hour) and benefits (health care and educational assistance), young Americans support the idea by a resounding 72%-9% margin. Additionally, 38% of young Americans say they would consider joining the Civilian Climate Corps if a position was available to them.

Overwhelming majorities say it’s important for Congress to invest in clean energy in order to address the energy crisis. Further, bipartisan majorities support policies to expand clean energy production. 76% of voters (including 88% of Democrats, 79% of independent voters, and 59% of Republicans) support Congress investing in the research and development of new clean energy technologies. 75% of voters (including 90% of Democrats, 77% of independent voters, and 57% of Republicans) support Congress making an investment to expand clean energy production in America. 74% of voters (including 94% of Democrats, 74% of independent voters, and 54% of Republicans) say it’s “very” or “somewhat” important that Congress takes action to address our energy crisis by investing in clean energy. Voters overwhelmingly support a proposal to provide financial assistance for families to make energy efficiency upgrades to their homes (79% support / 15% oppose, including a 66%-29% margin among Republican voters). When informed that the Senate is “discussing a new bill to help families deal with inflation and rising energy costs through investments in clean energy production,” and that the bill includes a scaled-back version of the Build Back Better Act’s clean energy investments, voters support this proposed legislation by a two-to-one margin (58% support / 29% oppose). 46% of voters say they would be more likely to vote for Democrats in November if Democrats in Congress “take action to expand clean energy production in America and address climate change,” while just 23% say that it would make them less inclined to vote for Democrats.

Frame the new economic legislation around climate and clean energy. Voters support new economic legislation 75%-17% margin when it’s described as “a new bill to lower insurance premiums for people who buy healthcare on their own, invest in clean energy, and bring down the costs of prescription drugs.” By a nearly three-to-one margin (68% support / 23% oppose), voters support the plan’s provision to “ramp up the use of clean energy, like solar and wind power.” Poll respondents were presented with the following two arguments, and sided more with the argument in support of the bill by a 61-%-29% margin: [Supporting Argument] “We should pass this bill. Investing in clean energy like solar and wind power will create jobs, help America become energy independent, and address the growing threat of climate change.” [Opposing Argument] “We should not pass this bill. These investments are another example of wasteful and unnecessary government spending that will be added to an out-of-control national debt and drive up inflation.