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Americans who have experienced extreme weather say that it has made them more concerned about climate change. 46% of Americans say that the area where they live has experienced more extreme weather related events in recent years. Within this 46% segment, the clear majority (62%) say that their personal experience with extreme weather has made them more concerned about climate change. Self-identified Democrats (66%) are far more likely than self-identified Republicans (30%) to report that their area is experiencing more extreme weather. And among those who say that their area has experienced more extreme weather, Democrats (74%) are considerably more likely than independents (58%) or Republicans (37%) to say that their personal experience with extreme weather has made them more concerned about climate change. Republicans who say that their area has experienced more extreme weather are more than twice as likely to say that climate change needs to be addressed “now” or “soon” (62%) than Republicans who say that they haven’t experienced more extreme weather (29%).

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls – including new poll releases from Gallup about Americans’ environmental concerns and the impacts of extreme weather experiences on people’s climate views, and a new poll of voters’ attitudes about fossil fuels and clean energy in light of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

One in three Americans say they have personally been affected by an extreme weather event since 2020. A recent Gallup poll found this, reflecting a period that included a paralyzing ice storm in Texas, one of the largest wildfires in California’s history and a powerful storm that killed dozens of people in the New York region. The most common answer given about specific type of extreme weather was extreme cold. People in the South and West said they were most likely to have experienced extreme heat. Beliefs about climate change were linked with claims about being affected by extreme weather: 63% of those who had been affected by extreme weather said they worried “a great deal” about global warming, compared with 33% who had not been affected by extreme weather. In 2021, climate disasters caused a combined $145 billion in damages and at least 688 deaths, according to NOAA. This survey was conducted in March 2022 of 1,000 Americans living in all 50 states.

As the seasons’ turn, new life and opportunities emerge. The Lab’s first Spring Community Call to re-ground in community, plant seeds of understanding on our movement’s key priorities and challenges, and nurture dialogue with other leaders about what it takes to build durable power and win equitable solutions.
Social science research affirms the need for “critical capacities” of effective social movements. The Lab has identified 5 critical capacities including strategic, organizing, narrative, disruptive, and electoral/institutional. During this Spring Community Call, we explore what these are and reflect on how these critical capacities are connected to building a powerful multi-racial, cross-class climate movement. In this community call, participants leave with:
• New and strengthened relationships with other leaders in the movement
• A snapshot of the climate movement’s current opportunities and gaps
• Concrete ways to apply the “5 critical capacities framework”
Together, we create a space of learning across the Lab community and inspire one another with our collectively held and distinct experiences.
 

At the Lab, we are wrapping up field research projects with six great partner climate advocacy organizations. While I can’t wait to share what we’ve learned once they are complete, today I wanted to provide some of my reflections on best practices for field research I’ve learned from these tests and other projects. Think of these as extra dollops of advice on top of our core guidance on research and testing and Learning 101*.