Resource Library

Results from the latest run of our Climate & Clean Energy Tracking Poll are out! The survey of 2,662 (self-reported) registered voters in Colorado, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Ohio found concern about climate around all-time highs, polarization of confidence in federal climate action, and remarkably steady Republican attitudes. Check out the deck*, or watch the webinar recording*.
This wave of the Tracking Poll was fielded from July 30-Aug. 2, 2018 in cooperation with the Climate and Clean Energy Polling Consortium (CCEPC) and Climate Nexus; it is the latest in the semi-annual surveys going back to November 2014. The goal has been to monitor shifts in beliefs and attitudes over time across five key states where the climate advocacy community is focusing substantial public engagement work.

In 2016, Donald Trump received 62% of the “rural vote” (more than any other recent Republican candidate) prompting debate over the rural-urban divide and how it had created both a distinct “rural consciousness” and “politics of resentment” in rural communities.
These divisions have carried over to attitudes about climate change and clean energy, where rural areas are less likely to see climate change as a threat* or support action to address it* than are voters in urban and suburban areas. And yet, rural communities have long been the birthplace of rad, progressive organizing efforts, and a number of recent initiatives aim to bridge some of these divisions*, better understand the needs of rural communities, and marshal sorely-needed resources* to build civil infrastructure.*
What are we learning? What are the implications for our climate and clean energy work? Grab some sweet tea because in this week’s alert, we are doing a deep dive into it all!