Issue: Climate Policy

American voters care a lot about clean air and water and favor clean energy. 96% of people agree that “clean air and water” are important, similar to the levels of people who agree that “healthcare” (97%) and “jobs and the economy” (95%) are important. 72% believe it would be better for America’s future to invest in wind, solar, and energy storage (compared to 28% who believe it’s better to invest in fossil fuels). Within that 72%, 87% of Democrats agree and 55% of Republicans agree. 73% of all voters believe that clean energy is “extremely” or “very” important to America’s future. 79% of voter favor tax incentives to expand the clean energy industry. This survey asked a few more questions about Americans’ support for clean energy policy.

This post includes a roundup of climate + environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from this week’s public polls – including lots of new polling about international climate action ahead of COP26, fresh new polling on the Build Back Better plan, and new polls on corporate accountability, household energy costs, and the personal impacts of climate change.

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)