Weekly Environmental Polling Roundup
7/28/23

HEADLINES

Yale + GMU
Americans have grown more concerned about extreme heat in the last two years [Article]

Climate Power + Data for Progress
Climate change and extreme weather are becoming “kitchen table issues” for voters [Press Release, Poll Memo, Crosstabs]

Premise
Most Americans say that this summer has been hotter than normal, and nearly two-thirds say that the government should take more action on climate change [Crosstabs]

EDF Action + Sierra Club + CATF Action + Earthworks Action Fund
Voters in key states want stronger limits on methane emissions, and believe that implementing technology to limit methane pollution is more likely to create jobs than reduce them [Battleground State Release, Battleground Poll Memo, TX Release, TX Poll Memo]

Climate Power
Latino voters grow much more supportive of the Biden administration’s clean energy plan in response to positive messaging; proof points about saving consumers money are particularly persuasive [Deck]

KEY TAKEAWAYS

Now is the time to talk about how climate change is causing extreme heat. Lots of data this week highlights how extreme heat has become a salient, everyday issue for Americans. New polling by Premise finds that most Americans recognize that we are experiencing an unusually hot summer, and Climate Power and Data for Progress find that two-thirds of voters call the impacts of climate change and extreme weather “kitchen table issues” in their household. Data from Yale and George Mason, meanwhile, shows that Americans’ concerns about extreme heat have stayed at elevated levels since the record-hot summer of 2021. With this summer’s heat waves coming right on the heels of the Canadian wildfire smoke, there is a window of opportunity to offer climate-related explanations and solutions for these extreme weather events while they have the public’s attention.

Limiting methane pollution is widely popular - including in states that are major producers of oil and gas. Polling by a coalition of groups -  including EDF Action, Sierra Club, CATF Action, and Earthworks Action Fund -  finds that voters overwhelmingly support stronger EPA limits on methane pollution by the oil and gas industry. This includes voters in political battleground states and in major states for oil and gas production such as Pennsylvania and Texas. Voters are predisposed to see methane as a dirty, polluting gas that harms public health and the climate, and advocates should lean into these negative attitudes about methane while going on offense against the oil and gas industry. The oil and gas industry is deeply unpopular with the public, and the methane coalition’s polling additionally finds that voters are more inclined to believe arguments that implementing new technology to limit methane pollution will create jobs than standard oil and gas industry arguments that these types of regulations will raise costs and kill jobs. 

GOOD DATA POINTS TO HIGHLIGHT

[Climate Change + Extreme Weather] 67% of voters say that the impacts of climate change and extreme weather events are “kitchen table issues” in their household that they often or sometimes think and talk about [Climate Power + Data for Progress]

[Climate Action] 64% of Americans say that the U.S. government should take more action to stop or slow climate change [Premise]

[Issue Priority] More Americans name climate change and the environment as the single “most important issue” to them than any other issue aside from inflation/prices, health care, and the economy/jobs [The Economist + YouGov]

[Methane - Battleground States] By a 68%-26% margin, battleground state voters support stronger EPA limits on methane emissions from the oil and gas industry [EDF Action + Sierra Club + CATF Action + Earthworks Action Fund]

[Methane - PA] By a 69%-27% margin, Pennsylvania voters support stronger EPA limits on methane emissions from the oil and gas industry [EDF Action + Sierra Club + CATF Action + Earthworks Action Fund]

[Methane - TX] By a 66%-28% margin, Texas voters support stronger EPA limits on methane emissions from the oil and gas industry [EDF Action + Sierra Club + CATF Action + Earthworks Action Fund]

[Methane + Jobs - Battleground States] By a 55%-41% margin, battleground state voters are more likely to agree that stronger methane pollution limits will create jobs than reduce jobs [EDF Action + Sierra Club + CATF Action + Earthworks Action Fund]

[Methane + Jobs - PA] By a 56%-42% margin, Pennsylvania voters are more likely to agree that stronger methane pollution limits will create jobs than reduce jobs [EDF Action + Sierra Club + CATF Action + Earthworks Action Fund]

[Methane + Jobs - TX] By a 58%-42% margin, Texas voters are more likely to agree that stronger methane pollution limits will create jobs than reduce jobs [EDF Action + Sierra Club + CATF Action + Earthworks Action Fund]

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