This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new national polling on oil and gas accountability, energy prices, and the public health impacts of climate change + new polling in Nevada on climate and clean energy messaging.

See this webpage for links to all the following resources.

HEADLINES

Data for Progress – Voters widely agree that oil and gas companies should be held “legally accountable” for their contributions to climate change [Guardian Article, Crosstabs]

Climate Power – Multiple polls show that Democrats can gain an edge on gas prices by going on the offensive against Big Oil [Memo, Deck]

Data for Progress – Most voters believe that climate change will impact their health and where they live, and more than two-thirds support the Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act after reading about it [Article, Crosstabs]

[NV] Climate Power – Messaging on climate change and clean energy shifts the presidential race among key audiences in Nevada, as Nevadans – like voters across the country – aren’t familiar with Biden’s and Trump’s respective records; positive and contrast messaging that emphasizes progress under Biden is especially persuasive [Deck]

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• The oil and gas industry continues to be a very potent villain for communications about climate change and energy prices. Data for Progress finds that the majority of voters, including two in five Republicans, support legal action against oil and gas companies for their contributions to climate change. Meanwhile, Climate Power finds that voters continue to blame the oil industry for high energy prices. With oil and gas ranking as one of the most unpopular industries in the country, corporate polluters continue to be a highly effective foil for communicating about environmental issues by uniting the public behind a common, non-partisan villain. 
   
• Climate change resonates with the public more when it’s connected to public health. Data for Progress finds that the majority of voters believe that climate change will impact their health, and also that voters who support legal action against the oil and gas industry specifically want to see the industry held responsible for endangering the public. Focusing on public health consistently resonates as one of the most effective ways to communicate about climate action, as the negative health impacts of polluted air and water are a tangible way to demonstrate how the pollution that causes climate change is also harming Americans in their day-to-day lives.

GOOD DATA POINTS TO HIGHLIGHT

• [Climate Change] 80% of voters recognize that climate change is happening, including 52% who say that it is mostly due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels [Data for Progress]
   
• [Climate Change] 58% of voters believe that climate change will impact their health [Data for Progress]
   
• [Climate Change] 56% of voters believe that climate change will impact where they live [Data for Progress]
   
• [Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act] 69% of voters support the Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act after reading a brief description of it [Data for Progress]
   
• [Fossil Fuel Accountability] 62% of voters agree that oil and gas companies should be held legally accountable for their contributions to climate change  [Data for Progress]
   
• [Nevada] 66% of Nevada voters say that climate change and clean energy will be at least “somewhat” important in their vote for president, including 41% who say that it will be “very” important [Climate Power]