Resource Center

Advocates should keep connecting gas to methane (and avoid calling gas “natural”), focus on electrification (not on banning gas), and highlight that renewable energy will create more jobs. Adults are largely unaware that gas is primarily composed of methane: 53% say natural gas is clean energy. 76% view natural gas favorably, but only 30% view methane gas favorably. Methane regulation is popular: 72% adults, including majorities of Democrats and Republicans, support requiring oil and gas companies to install technology to reduce methane leaks, and 65% also support the EPA establishing stronger regulations. Electrification is also popular: 63% of adults support requiring new homes and buildings to be wired for electric appliances and electric vehicle charging, even if they’re also fitted for gas. 50% of Americans support their “local government requiring newly constructed homes and buildings to be 100% electric,” an increase of seven points over the last two years, while roughly 36% support their “local government banning the use of natural gas in newly constructed homes and buildings.” This survey asked more questions that are reported in this memo.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls – including a new international sustainability poll from POLITICO and Morning Consult, findings about the public’s reactions to different terms for methane gas, and state-level polls in Indiana, Maryland, and Wisconsin.­

Climate campaign messaging that centers love may be an essential way to build political will. In the United Kingdom, The Climate Coalition has pushed its “Show the Love” campaign (for 8 years now) to engage the British public about the impacts of climate change by messaging a positive narrative of shared values and identity, and the common experience of love, tenderness and care. The Show the Love theme emerged from a process of audience testing and consultation led by Climate Outreach in early 2014. The Show the Love campaign has produced many materials and videos over the years including films, cartoons, animated films and homemade knitted heart, and many celebrities have been involved. In the campaign’s original 2014 video, people talk about their love for fishing, summer, chocolate, football and even driving a taxi around London. The Climate Coalition found in 2018 that stories around that year’s campaign had a media reach of over 526 million people, and 70,000 people including 80 members of parliament wore and shared green hearts.

The recent winter storm over a huge stretch of the country—including parts of Texas—has brought back memories of almost exactly a year ago, when beginning on February 14th 2021, a deep freeze in which hundreds of Texans lost their lives and more than half of the state was without power or water service for days. A year after that traumatic catastrophe, the state remains susceptible to similar extreme weather events and a freeze-vulnerable natural gas supply still powers many homes and contributes to climate change. Today we highlight lessons from innovative and evidenced-based online campaigning surrounding this one-year anniversary to hasten the end of natural gas.

Texas voters favor increasing renewable energy production. 73% believe Texas should increase solar energy production, and 68% believe the same for wind energy, compared to just 42% for natural gas, 28% for nuclear, and 18% for coal. 62% of Texans agree (“somewhat” or “strongly”) that Texas should aim to achieve 100% clean power. 61% agree it should be a land owner’s right to install wind turbines or solar panels on their property. 75% agree (“somewhat” or “strongly”) that wind and solar are reliable forms of energy. This poll includes many more related questions on energy policy.

In 2022, the Climate Advocacy Lab is giving an 8-part Campaign Planning and Organizing training series. In part 1, we delve into the use of the SMARTIE framework for goal setting in alignment with organiztional strategy. We position the use of SMARTIE within the context of organizing and campaigning with a multi-racial cross-class lens in order to build the people power necessary to win a just transition.