Voters haven’t heard much about PFAS, but express deep concerns after learning about them. Voters are particularly concerned about PFAS exposure through drinking water, and overwhelmingly support new EPA standards to limit it. Most voters (71%) say that they haven’t heard anything at all about PFAS or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, and half (50%) also say that they’ve heard nothing about the term “forever chemicals.” Following a description and additional information about PFAS contamination in food, the high incidence of PFAS exposure in the population, and the health risks of PFAS exposure, more than four in five voters (83%) say that they’re concerned about long-term exposure to PFAS and half (51%) are “very” concerned about it.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on extreme weather, environmental justice, water quality, offshore wind, and proposed measures to protect workers from extreme heat.

Voters overwhelmingly support proposed new OSHA rules to protect workers from extreme heat. Voters recognize that extreme heat is a hazard for workers. More than four in ten (84%) say that they are concerned about workers facing extreme heat while at the workplace, including 42% who are “very concerned” about it. Concern intensifies when voters learn about the lack of safeguards to protect workers from extreme heat. After reading that “employers are not currently obligated to provide workers with protections against extreme heat, like breaks to cool off or drink water,” nearly nine in ten (88%) say that they are concerned about workers facing extreme heat and most (53%) are “very concerned” about it. Despite the deep partisan polarization that we commonly see in polls about government regulations, voters across party lines are closely aligned on this topic: 96% of Democrats, 86% of independents, and 86% of Republicans say that they support these proposed new OSHA rules.

This post includes climate and environment headlines, data points, and key takeaways from recent public polls - including new polling on Americans’ attitudes about climate change, views on different energy sources, and beliefs about the links between fossil fuel pollution and health problems.

There is a clear and urgent opportunity for the health sector to inform and support Americans on climate change as a matter of health. 70% of Americans have heard that climate change can affect their health. However, more Americans acknowledge the health impacts on others (69%) than themselves (46%), likely due to cognitive dissonance. Most Americans (69%) trust health professionals for climate health information and, 61% want to learn how to protect their health from adverse climate effects such as poor air quality, extreme heat, or severe storms. By disseminating accurate information and guidance across a variety of mediums (including direct conversations), the health sector can empower Americans to protect their health from climate-related risks and advocate for broader systemic changes to address climate change in inclusive, just, and equitable ways.

Emotions wheels have long been a valuable tool for psychologists to help people better understand and interpret their feelings.

Americans view climate change as a health issue and expect this summer’s weather to be as extreme or worse than last summer’s. 65% of Americans agree that climate change is a “threat to human health”. Two in five (40%) believe that climate change presents a “large” or “moderate” risk to their own personal health and well-being. Most Americans (63%) expect this summer to either be on par with last summer (36%) or even worse (37%) in terms of weather-related issues – even after hearing that 2023 was the warmest year on record for the planet. This is clearly a source of anxiety for Americans heading into the warmer months, with most (53%) saying that they are concerned about themselves or someone in their family being impacted by extreme weather this summer.

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.

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. Nearly seven in ten voters (69% support / 24% oppose) say that they support the Community Mental Wellness and Resilience Act. Support for the bill spans partisan lines, with nearly nine in ten Democrats (88%), two-thirds of independents (67%), and around half of Republicans (52%) in favor of it. Climate anxiety is highly relatable, with most voters saying that climate change negatively impacts their plans for the future. The majority of voters (55%) say that their feelings about climate change have some kind of negative impact on their planning for the future. Younger voters in particular expect that their lives will be impacted by climate change. Nearly two-thirds of voters under 45 say that climate change will impact their health (65%) and where they live (64%), and most voters under 45 (54%) believe that it will impact their finances as well.

A recent survey asked middle and high school students nationwide a variety of questions about climate change, environment, and their feelings about the future. Among the key findings: 

• 72% of respondents say climate change is already impacting their lives, and 53% believe it will be a major problem over the course of their lives. Over three-quarters (77%) think climate change will require radical changes to how we all live. These percentages are even higher among students of color.