Climate as a Voting Issue, Part 1: September American Climate Perspectives Survey

This election season has been filled with reports showing the widening partisan divide in America. Opinion gaps are growing on topics such as poor and disadvantaged communities, the size of government, corporations, military, immigration or other key social issues. Climate change has been no stranger to partisanship. So, how does the topic of climate change fare in America today? Is the issue as divisive as people seem to think it is?

This month, ecoAmerica’s American Climate Perspectives Survey begins to answers these questions in the first of a two-part series called Climate as a Voting Issue. Here are a few key highlights from the survey:

• 90% of Americans think Democrats and Republicans should work together on climate solutions. A vast majority of Americans, including 96% of Democrats, 90% of Independents and 83% of Republicans believe this.
• Independents are siding with Democrats in disapproval of environmental rollbacks of the Trump administration. A majority of Americans (62%) disapprove of the rollbacks, including 64% of Independents and 86% of Democrats.
• Americans Are More Concerned About Climate Change Today than in Past Elections. ecoAmerica found that more than three in five Americans (63%) report feeling more concerned about climate change now than in previous elections.

Find, read and download the full report HERE.

And, return next month for Part 2 of the Climate as a Voting Issue series. In October, we will cover American awareness and attitudes on candidates’ climate stance, and whether or not they intend to vote for candidates that support climate change solutions.

And, for helpful guides on talking about climate change in your community, check ecoAmerica’s ongoing Talking Points series, where we make Starting The Conversation, discussing Clean Energy, connecting Climate and Caring for Our Children, and conversing about Climate in your Community easy and effective!