Climate Change Threats Stir Worry Among US Citizens
A recent CNN poll, conducted by SSRS, reveals that nearly two-thirds of US adults express concern about the threat of climate change in their communities. Over half of the respondents are apprehensive about the impact of extreme weather, including extreme heat, devastating storms, and drought, all of which are consequences of the escalating climate crisis.
Public Demand for Federal Government Intervention
The poll also indicates that a significant majority of US adults, approximately 73%, believe that the federal government should formulate its climate policies with the aim of reducing the country’s planet-warming pollution by half by the end of this decade. This aligns with President Joe Biden’s climate goals, which prioritize tackling the climate crisis more than any other president has done before.
Biden Administration’s Climate Policies
President Biden’s administration is actively working towards these goals through various means, including billions of dollars in tax subsidies to develop more renewable energy infrastructure and assist consumers in purchasing discounted electric vehicles, solar panels, and energy-efficient appliances. The administration is also formulating and implementing several federal regulations aimed at reducing pollution from the oil and gas industry, power plants, and gas-powered vehicles.
US Commitments at the COP28 Climate Summit
The poll results come at a time when nations are debating the future of fossil fuels at the COP28 climate summit in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Vice President Kamala Harris announced at the summit that the US would contribute an additional $3 billion to the global climate action fund. The Biden administration also announced new rules to reduce emissions of methane, a potent planet-warming gas, by 80% from the US oil and gas industry.
Bipartisan Aspiration to Cut US Climate Pollution
The CNN poll reveals that the aspiration to reduce US climate pollution is a bipartisan one. Nearly all Democrats, 76% of independents, and half of Republicans agree that the US should cut its greenhouse gas emissions by half by 2030.
Climate Change: A Key Issue for Democrats
Climate change, much like abortion, is one of the strongest issues for Democrats, according to the CNN poll. Americans give Biden a 43% approval rating for his handling of environmental policy, which is several points above his overall approval rating and significantly above his numbers for handling the economy.
Climate Change and the Economy: An Intertwined Relationship
Despite only 2% of Americans seeing climate change as the most important issue facing the country, the poll reveals that climate change and clean energy are increasingly intertwined with the economy. Climate change-fueled disasters not only impact commerce but also strike at the heart of the American dream: homeownership. In states prone to wildfires and extreme weather, the cost of home and property insurance is skyrocketing, with some insurance companies dropping coverage altogether due to high risk. This has damaging implications for the housing market and the cost of homes.
Public Perception of Responsibility to Combat Climate Change
Most US adults believe that humanity bears a significant responsibility to try to mitigate climate change but feel that the US and Chinese governments and the energy industry are all doing too little to address the problem. Interestingly, only 40% of Americans believe that individuals like them hold a great deal of responsibility to reduce climate change. However, 58% feel that they are doing the right amount to reduce their impact on the climate crisis, with 37% admitting that they are doing too little.
Partisan Divide Over Climate Change
The poll reveals a profound partisan divide over perceptions of climate change and the necessary actions to address it. Democrats are far more likely than Republicans to believe that humanity bears a significant responsibility to mitigate climate change (77% vs. 42%). However, about three-quarters of Republicans acknowledge that human activity contributes to the planet’s warming and that humanity has some responsibility to combat climate change.
Climate Change: A Personal Experience for Many Americans
More than 4 in 10 Americans report having experienced extreme weather over the past year, with most attributing it to climate change. In recent years, Americans have faced climate-fueled extreme heat, drought, and flash flooding that have devastated communities.
About the Poll
The CNN poll was conducted by SSRS from November 1-30 among a random national sample of 1,795 adults initially reached by mail. Surveys were either conducted online or by telephone with a live interviewer. The results for the full sample have a margin of sampling error of plus or minus 3.2 percentage points; it is larger for subgroups.