Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Fall 2024

Jan 30, 2025 | All Categories, Climate Change in the American Mind, Politics and Policy, Reports

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Report Summary

This report is based on findings from a nationally representative survey – Climate Change in the American Mind – conducted jointly by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. Interview dates: December 11 -22, 2024. Interviews: 1,013 adults (18+), 890 of whom are registered to vote. Average margin of error for registered voters: +/- 3 percentage points at the 95% confidence level.

 

Principal Investigators:

Anthony Leiserowitz, PhD
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

Edward Maibach, MPH, PhD
George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication

Seth Rosenthal, PhD
Yale Program on Climate Change Communication

John Kotcher, PhD
George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication

For all media and other inquiries, please email:

Yale Program on Climate Change Communication: Eric Fine ([email protected]) and Michaela Hobbs ([email protected])

George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication: Edward Maibach ([email protected]) and John Kotcher ([email protected])

Climate Change in the American Mind is conducted jointly by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication.

Executive Summary

Drawing on a representative sample of the U.S. adult population (n = 1,013; including the 890 registered voters whose data are used in this report), these findings describe how registered voters view a variety of domestic climate and energy policies. The survey was fielded from December 11 – 22, 2024, after the 2024 U.S. Presidential election.

This executive summary mostly presents the results for all registered voters, while the main text of the report also breaks the results down by political party and ideology.

Global Warming and Clean Energy as Government Priorities

  • 54% of registered voters think global warming should be a high or very high priority for the president and Congress.
  • 63% of registered voters think developing sources of clean energy should be a high or very high priority for the president and Congress.

Policies to Reduce the Pollution that Causes Global Warming

Majorities of registered voters support a range of policies to reduce carbon pollution and promote clean energy. These include:

  • 88% support federal funding to help farmers improve practices to protect and restore the soil so it absorbs and stores more carbon.
  • 77% support funding more research into renewable energy sources.
  • 74% support setting strict limits on methane emissions from oil and gas production.
  • 73% support regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant.
  • 69% support tax credits or rebates to encourage people to buy electric appliances, such as heat pumps and induction stoves.
  • 69% support funding more research on global warming and climate change by federal agencies such as NASA, NOAA, and the EPA.
  • 67% support requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and using the money to reduce other taxes by an equal amount.
  • 63% support transitioning the U.S. economy from fossil fuels to 100% clean energy by 2050.
  • 58% support tax rebates for people who purchase electric vehicles.

Energy Production

  • 76% of registered voters support generating renewable energy on public land in the U.S.
  • 51% support expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast.
  • 46% support drilling and mining fossil fuels on public land in the U.S.
  • 32% support drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

Climate Justice Policies

Large majorities of registered voters support a variety of climate justice policies. These include:

  • 77% support federal funding to make buildings in low-income communities more energy efficient.
  • 76% support strengthening the enforcement of industrial pollution limits in low-income communities and communities of color that are disproportionately impacted by air and water pollution.
  • 75% support a national program to train people who work in the fossil fuel industry for new jobs in the renewable energy industry.
  • 69% support increasing federal funding to low-income communities and communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by air and water pollution.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA)

On August 16, 2022, President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. The law aims to curb inflation, reduce prescription drug prices and the cost of health insurance, modernize the Internal Revenue Service, and invest in U.S. clean energy production.

  • 36% of registered voters have heard either “a lot” (12%) or “some” (24%) about the IRA.
  • After reading a short description of the IRA, 70% of registered voters support it.

International Climate Action

  • 73% of registered voters support U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Agreement.
  • 61% support providing financial and technical support to developing countries that agree to limit their greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) and 58% support providing such aid and support to help developing countries prepare for the impacts of global warming (adaptation).
  • 46% support increasing tariffs on solar panels and electric vehicles imported from China, even if it increases the cost for U.S. consumers.

Energy Production as an Economic Issue

  • 63% of registered voters either think policies that promote clean energy will improve economic growth and create jobs (42%) or that they will have no impact on growth or jobs (20%).
  • 55% of registered voters think the clean energy industry will create more good jobs than the fossil fuel industry.

Transitioning from Fossil Fuels to Clean Energy

  • 71% of registered voters say the U.S. should use more renewable energy than it does today and 61% say the U.S. should use less fossil fuels than it does today.

Who Should Act?

  • Half or more registered voters say the following should do more to address global warming: Corporations and industry (69%), President Trump (61%), the Republican Party (61%), citizens themselves (60%), the U.S. Congress (59%), local government officials (55%), their governor (54%), the Democratic Party (52%), and the media (51%). 46% say they themselves should do more.

Political Advocacy

  • 8% of registered voters have contacted government officials in the past year to urge them to take action to reduce global warming.
  • If asked by a person they like and respect, 48% of registered voters say they would sign a petition about global warming, 28% would donate money to an organization working on global warming, 27% would contact government officials about global warming, 26% would volunteer their time to an organization working on global warming, and 26% would meet with an elected official or their staff about global warming.
  • 22% say they would support an organization engaging in non-violent civil disobedience against corporate or government activities that make global warming worse, 11% say they would personally engage in non-violent civil disobedience, and 3% say they would be willing to get arrested as part of such an action.
  • 1% say they are currently participating in a campaign to convince elected officials to take action to reduce global warming, while 7% say they would “definitely” join such a campaign and 18% would “probably” join one.

Collective Efficacy

  • 38% of registered voters are at least “moderately confident” that people like them, working together, can affect what the federal government does about global warming, and 36% are confident that they can affect what corporations do about global warming.

Educating Students About Global Warming

  • 77% of registered voters say that schools should teach children about global warming’s causes, consequences, and potential solutions.

1. Global Warming and Clean Energy as Government Priorities

1.1 More than half of registered voters think global warming should be a “high” or “very high” priority for the president and Congress.

More than half of registered voters (54%) think global warming should be a high or very high priority for the president and Congress. This includes large majorities of liberal Democrats (91%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (80%), and about one-third of liberal/moderate Republicans (36%). Few conservative Republicans (14%) think so.

This line graph shows the percentage of registered voters over time since 2008, broken down by political party and ideology, who think global warming should be a “high” or “very high” priority for the president and Congress. More than half of registered voters think global warming should be a “high” or “very high” priority for the president and Congress. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

1.2 Most registered voters think developing sources of clean energy should be a “high” or “very high” priority for the president and Congress.

About six in ten registered voters (63%) think developing sources of clean energy should be a high or very high priority for the president and Congress. This includes large majorities of liberal Democrats (93%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (87%), and about half of liberal/moderate Republicans (47%), but only 26% of conservative Republicans. Republicans’ support for making clean energy a priority has trended downward since 2018.

This line graph shows the percentage of registered voters over time since 2010, broken down by political party and ideology, who think developing sources of clean energy should be a “high” or “very high” priority for the president and Congress. Most registered voters think developing sources of clean energy should be a “high” or “very high” priority for the president and Congress. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

2. Support for Policies to Reduce the Pollution that Causes Global Warming

2.1 Most registered voters support climate-friendly policies.

Registered voters across the political spectrum support many policies designed to reduce carbon pollution and fossil fuel dependence and promote clean energy, including:

  • Providing federal funding to help farmers improve practices to protect and restore the soil so it absorbs and stores more carbon: 88% of registered voters, including 96% of liberal Democrats, 94% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 88% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 78% of conservative Republicans.
  • Funding more research into renewable energy sources, such as solar and wind power: 77% of registered voters, including 98% of liberal Democrats, 93% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 62% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 50% of conservative Republicans.
  • Setting strict limits on methane emissions from oil and gas production: 74% of registered voters, including 98% of liberal Democrats, 91% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 64% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 44% of conservative Republicans.
  • Regulating carbon dioxide (the primary greenhouse gas) as a pollutant: 73% of registered voters, including 95% of liberal Democrats, 91% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 61% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 47% of conservative Republicans.
  • Providing tax credits or rebates to encourage people to buy electric appliances, such as heat pumps and induction stoves, that run on electricity instead of oil or gas: 69% of registered voters, including 94% of liberal Democrats, 86% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 60% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 37% of conservative Republicans.
  • Funding more research on global warming and climate change by federal agencies such as NASA, NOAA, and the EPA: 69% of registered voters, including 94% of liberal Democrats, 95% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 54% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 34% of conservative Republicans.
  • Requiring fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon tax and use the money to reduce other taxes (such as income tax) by an equal amount: 67% of registered voters, including 94% of liberal Democrats, 85% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 54% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 31% of conservative Republicans.
  • Transitioning the U.S. economy (including electric utilities, transportation, buildings, and industry) from fossil fuels to 100% clean energy by 2050: 63% of registered voters, including 94% of liberal Democrats, 88% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 42% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 27% of conservative Republicans.
  • Providing tax rebates for people who purchase electric vehicles: 58% of registered voters, including 91% of liberal Democrats, 70% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 42% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 28% of conservative Republicans.
These dot plots show the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who "strongly" or "somewhat" support climate-friendly policies. Most registered voters support climate-friendly policies. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

2.2 A large majority of registered voters support generating renewable energy on public land.

A large majority of registered voters (76%) support generating renewable energy (solar and wind) on public land in the United States. This includes a large majority of liberal Democrats (92%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (89%) as well as a majority of liberal/moderate Republicans (69%) and half of conservative Republicans (50%).

Fewer registered voters support fossil-fuel production in the United States, including:

  • Expanding offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off the U.S. coast: 51% of registered voters; 78% of conservative Republicans, 72% of liberal/moderate Republicans, 41% of moderate/conservative Democrats, and 19% of liberal Democrats.
  • Drilling for and mining fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) on public land in the U.S.: 46% of registered voters; 81% of conservative Republicans, 61% of liberal/moderate Republicans, 33% of moderate/conservative Democrats, and 15% of liberal Democrats.
  • Drilling for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge: 32% of registered voters; 59% of conservative Republicans, 42% of liberal/moderate Republicans, 24% of moderate/conservative Democrats, and 8% of liberal Democrats.
These dot plots show the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who "strongly" or "somewhat" support different energy-generation strategies. A large majority of registered voters support generating renewable energy on public land. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

2.3 A large majority of registered voters support policies that promote climate justice goals.

A large majority of registered voters across the political spectrum support a variety of policies that promote climate justice goals, including the following:

  • Providing federal funding to make buildings in low-income communities more energy efficient: 77% of registered voters, including 97% of liberal Democrats, 98% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 65% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 50% of conservative Republicans.
  • Strengthening enforcement of industrial pollution limits in low-income communities and communities of color that are disproportionately impacted by air and water pollution: 76% of registered voters, including 96% of liberal Democrats, 94% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 67% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 47% of conservative Republicans.
  • Developing a national program to train people who work in the fossil fuel industry for new jobs in the renewable energy industry (such as wind and solar): 75% of registered voters, including 98% of liberal Democrats, 96% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 59% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 43% of conservative Republicans.
  • Increasing federal funding to low-income communities and communities of color who are disproportionately impacted by air and water pollution: 69% of registered voters, including 96% of liberal Democrats, 91% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 48% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 36% of conservative Republicans.
These dot plots show the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who "strongly" or "somewhat" support policies that promote climate justice goals. A large majority of registered voters support policies that promote climate justice goals. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

3. The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA)

3.1 Most registered voters have not heard much about the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022.

On August 16, 2022, former President Joe Biden signed the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) into law. The law aims to curb inflation by reducing the federal deficit, lowering prescription drug prices and the cost of health insurance, modernizing the Internal Revenue Service, and investing in U.S. clean energy production. The law authorizes $391 billion for developing clean energy and addressing global warming, including tax incentives and rebates to help consumers and businesses buy energy-efficient appliances, solar panels, electric vehicles, etc. The IRA also includes support for clean energy jobs and investments in communities that are most harmed by air and water pollution. It is the largest investment the U.S. government has ever made to reduce global warming, and it is projected to help the U.S. reduce its carbon pollution 40% by 2030. The law will be paid for by closing tax loopholes.

A majority of registered voters (60%) have heard at least “a little” about the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 (IRA; refer to data tables, p. 38), but only 36% have heard either “a lot” (12%) or “some” (24%) about it. About half of liberal Democrats (48%) have heard “a lot” or “some” about the IRA, as have 45% conservative Republicans. Fewer moderate/conservative Democrats (30%) or liberal/moderate Republicans (21%) have done so. Four in ten registered voters (40%) have heard “nothing at all” about the IRA.

This dot plot shows the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who have heard "a lot" or "some" about the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Most registered voters have not heard much about the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

3.2 After reading a brief description of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, most registered voters support it.

After reading a brief description of the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), a large majority of registered voters (70%) say they support it (38% “strongly support” and 32% “somewhat support”; refer to data tables, p. 38). Nearly all liberal Democrats (97%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (92%) support the IRA, as do more than half of liberal/moderate Republicans (56%). In addition, one-third of conservative Republicans (33%) support the IRA, while 67% oppose it (including 45% who strongly oppose it).

This dot plot shows the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who "strongly" or "somewhat" support the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. After reading a brief description of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, most registered voters support it. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

4. International Climate Action

4.1 A majority of registered voters support U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Agreement.

In December 2015, officials from 196 countries (nearly every country in the world) met in Paris at the United Nations Climate Change Conference and negotiated a global agreement to limit global warming. On Earth Day, April 2016, the United States and 174 other countries signed the agreement, with all of the other countries soon following suit. However, during President Trump’s first term, the United States withdrew from the agreement. The United States then rejoined the agreement soon after President Biden’s inauguration in 2021. On the day of his second inauguration, January 20, 2025, President Trump signed an executive order to begin withdrawing the United States from the agreement again.

A large majority of registered voters (73%) support U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Agreement, but support varies by party. Nearly all liberal Democrats (98%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (92%) and about two-thirds of liberal/moderate Republicans (65%) support U.S. participation, as do four in ten conservative Republicans (40%).

This dot plot shows the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who "strongly" or "somewhat" support U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Agreement. A majority of registered voters support U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Agreement. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

4.2 A majority of registered voters support providing aid to developing countries for climate change mitigation and adaptation.

Majorities of registered voters support providing financial aid and technical support to developing countries to limit their greenhouse gas emissions (i.e., mitigation, 61%) and to help them prepare for the impacts of global warming (i.e., adaptation, 58%).

Large majorities of liberal Democrats support providing aid for mitigation (91%) and adaptation (92%), as do large majorities of moderate/conservative Democrats (mitigation, 78%; adaptation, 80%). Fewer liberal/moderate Republicans (mitigation, 48%; adaptation, 41%) and conservative Republicans (mitigation, 28%; adaptation, 22%) support these policies.

These dot plots show the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who "strongly" or "somewhat" support providing aid to developing countries for climate change mitigation and adaptation. A majority of registered voters support providing aid to developing countries for climate change mitigation and adaptation. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

4.3 Fewer than half of registered voters support increasing tariffs on Chinese solar panels and electric vehicles even if they increase the cost for U.S. consumers.

Fewer than half of registered voters (46%) support increasing tariffs on solar panels and electric vehicles imported from China, even if it increases the cost for U.S. consumers. Majorities of conservative Republicans (71%) and liberal/moderate Republicans (62%) support increasing these tariffs while fewer moderate/conservative Democrats (35%) and liberal Democrats (18%) support doing so.

This dot plot shows the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who "strongly" or "somewhat" support increasing tariffs on Chinese solar panels and electric vehicles even if they increase the cost for U.S. consumers. Fewer than half of registered voters support increasing tariffs on Chinese solar panels and electric vehicles even if they increase the cost for U.S. consumers. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

5. Energy Production as an Economic Issue

5.1 About four in ten registered voters think policies that promote clean energy will improve economic growth and create jobs.

About four in ten registered voters (42%) think policies that promote clean energy will improve economic growth and create jobs, while 35% think it will have the opposite effect, reducing growth and costing jobs, and 20% think it will have no impact either way.1

Opinion is sharply divided along political lines; majorities of liberal Democrats (77%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (53%) think clean energy policies will have a positive impact on the economy and jobs. By contrast, more liberal/moderate Republicans think such policies will have a negative impact (48%) than a positive impact (21%), and 70% of conservative Republicans think the policies will have a negative impact, while only 14% think they will have a positive effect.

This bar chart shows the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who think policies that promote clean energy will improve economic growth and create jobs. About four in ten registered voters think policies that promote clean energy will improve economic growth and create jobs. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

5.2 Most registered voters think the clean energy industry will create more good jobs than the fossil fuel industry.

A majority of registered voters (55%) think increasing production of clean energy in the U.S. will produce more new jobs than increasing fossil fuel production, while 43% think the opposite (that increasing fossil fuel production will create more jobs than increasing clean energy production).2

Nearly all liberal Democrats (91%) and a large majority of moderate/conservative Democrats (71%) think clean energy production will produce more good jobs. In contrast, majorities of liberal/moderate Republicans (62%) and conservative Republicans (82%) think increasing fossil fuel production will create more good U.S. jobs.

This bar chart shows the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who think the clean energy industry will create more good jobs than the fossil fuel industry. Most registered voters think the clean energy industry will create more good jobs than the fossil fuel industry. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

1 The full text of the survey item and response categories are: Please indicate which one of these statements comes closest to your own views – even if it is not exactly right: Overall, government policies intended to transition away from fossil fuels (coal, oil, natural gas) and toward clean energy (solar, wind) will… (a) Improve economic growth and provide new jobs; (b) Have no impact on economic growth or jobs; (c) Reduce economic growth and cost jobs.

2 The full text of the survey item and response categories are: Generally speaking, which do you think will produce more good jobs in the U.S.? (a) Increasing production of clean energy such as wind and solar; (b) Increasing production of fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas.

6. Support for Transitioning from Fossil Fuels to Clean Energy

6.1 Most registered voters think the U.S. should use more renewable energy and less fossil fuels.

A large majority of registered voters (71%) say that, in the future, the U.S. should use more renewable energy sources (solar, wind, and geothermal) than it does today, while only 12% say the U.S. should use less. Large majorities of liberal Democrats (95%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (88%) say the U.S. should use more renewable energy sources, as do about half of liberal/moderate Republicans (53%) and 43% of conservative Republicans. In each of the political groups, more people say the U.S. should use more renewable energy than say it should use less.

A majority of registered voters (61%) also say that, in the future, the U.S. should use less fossil fuels (coal, oil, and natural gas) than it does today, while only 17% say the U.S. should use more. Large majorities of liberal Democrats (90%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (78%) say the U.S. should use less fossil fuels. More liberal/moderate Republicans say the U.S. should use less fossil fuels (34%) than say it should use more (26%), while a plurality say it should use the same amount as today (40%). Conservative Republicans are the only group in which more people say the U.S. should use more fossil fuels (38%) than say it should use less (30%).

This table shows the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who think the U.S. should use more or less renewable energy and fossibl fuels. Most registered voters think the U.S. should use more renewable energy and less fossil fuels. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

7. Who Should Take Action to Address Global Warming?

7.1 Majorities of registered voters want corporations and industry, government, and citizens to do more to address global warming.

About seven in ten registered voters say corporations and industry should do either “much more” or “more” to address global warming (69% of registered voters, including 95% of liberal Democrats, 91% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 50% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 34% of conservative Republicans).

Half or more registered voters, including majorities of both liberal and moderate/conservative Democrats, say President-elect [now President] Trump (61%), the Republican Party (61%), citizens themselves (60%), the U.S. Congress (59%), local government officials (55%), their governor (54%), the Democratic Party (52%), and the media (51%) should do more. Forty-six percent of registered voters think they themselves should do more to address global warming.

Thirty-seven percent of liberal/moderate Republicans say their party (the Republican Party) should do more to address global warming, while only 21% of conservative Republicans say so. Large majorities of both liberal Democrats (83%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (75%) say their party (the Democratic Party) should do more.

These dot plots show the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who think each of the following should be doing more or less to address global warming. Majorities of registered voters want corporations and industry, government, and citizens to do more to address global warming. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

8. Political Advocacy

8.1 Eight percent of registered voters have urged elected officials to reduce global warming.

Eight percent of registered voters have contacted government officials to urge them to take action to reduce global warming at least once over the past 12 months. This includes 16% of liberal Democrats, 10% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 6% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 2% of conservative Republicans.

This dot plot shows the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who have urged elected officials to take action to reduce global warming one or more times over the past 12 months. Eight percent of registered voters have urged elected officials to reduce global warming. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

8.2 Many registered voters are willing to take political actions to reduce global warming if asked.

About half of registered voters (48%) say they would sign a petition about global warming if someone they like and respect asked them to, including majorities of liberal Democrats (83%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (64%), but fewer liberal/moderate Republicans (28%) and conservative Republicans (17%). About one in four registered voters would donate money to an organization working on global warming (28%), write letters, email, or phone government officials about global warming (27%), volunteer their time to an organization working on global warming (26%), or meet with an elected official or their staff about global warming (26%).

About one in five registered voters (22%) would support an organization engaging in non-violent civil disobedience against corporate or government activities that make global warming worse, and 11% (including 22% of liberal Democrats) would personally engage in such non-violent civil disobedience.

These dot plots show the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who "definitely" or "probably" would take various political actions to reduce global warming if a person they like and respect asked them to. Many registered voters are willing to take political actions to reduce global warming if asked. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

8.3 Relatively few registered voters would be willing to get arrested as part of a non-violent civil disobedience action.

Although 11% of registered voters say they would personally engage in non-violent civil disobedience against corporate or government activities that make global warming worse (refer to section 8.2), only 3% say they would be willing to get arrested as part of such an action (1% “definitely would,” 2% “probably would”; refer to data tables, p. 47). This includes 6% of liberal Democrats, 2% of conservative Republicans, and 1% of both moderate/conservative Democrats and liberal/moderate Republicans.

According to the most recent data available from the U.S. Census Bureau, there are more than 161 million registered voters in the United States. Given that 1% say they “definitely would” get arrested as part of a non-violent action against activities that make global warming worse, and an additional 2% “probably would,” it suggests that approximately 1.5 million to 4.5 million registered voters may be willing to do so.

This dot plot shows the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who "definitely" or "probably" would be willing to get arrested as part of a non-violent civil disobedience action against corporate or government activities that make global warming worse. Relatively few registered voters would be willing to get arrested as part of a non-violent civil disobedience action. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

8.4 About one in four registered voters are participating in, or willing to join, a campaign to convince elected officials to take action to reduce global warming. Current participation is low.

About one in four in ten registered voters (26%) say they are either “definitely” (7%) or “probably” (18%) willing to join a campaign to convince elected officials to take action to reduce global warming or are currently participating in such a campaign (1%; refer to data tables, p. 48). This includes 50% of liberal Democrats (1% “currently,” 11% “definitely,” 38% “probably”), 31% of moderate/conservative Democrats (1% “currently,” 11% “definitely,” 19% “probably”), 12% of liberal/moderate Republicans (1% “currently,” 2% “definitely,” 10% “probably”), and 8% of conservative Republicans (none “currently,” 4% “definitely,” and 4% “probably”).

This dot plot shows the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who "definitely" or "probably" willing to join a campaign to convince elected officials to take action to reduce global warming or are already currently participating in such a campaign. About one in four registered voters are participating in, or willing to join, a campaign to convince elected officials to take action to reduce global warming. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

9. Collective Efficacy

9.1 Thirty-eight percent of registered voters are confident they can affect what the federal government does about global warming.

Perceived collective efficacy regarding global warming – the belief that like-minded citizens can work together to influence what government and business leaders do about global warming – is an important motivator for individuals to take collective action.3 Thirty-eight percent of registered voters are at least “moderately confident” that people like them, working together, can affect what the federal government does about global warming (a decrease of 10 percentage points since we last asked this question in Spring 2024). Similarly, 36% are at least “moderately confident” that people like them, working together, can affect what corporations do about global warming (-10 percentage points since Spring 2024).

About half of liberal Democrats express collective efficacy regarding global warming, while conservative Republicans express the lowest collective efficacy, although that may in part be because they are less likely to support action on global warming overall.

These dot plots show the percentage of registered voters, broken down by political party and ideology, who are "extremely", "very", or "moderately" confident that people can work together to affect what the federal government does about global warming. Thirty-eight percent of registered voters are confident they can affect what the federal government does about global warming. Data: CCAM Politics and Policy, Fall 2024. Refer to the data tables in Appendix 1 of the report for all percentages.

3 Bandura, A. (2000). Exercise of human agency through collective efficacy. Current Directions in Psychological Science, 9, 75- https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8721.00064

10. Educating Students About Global Warming

10.1 About three in four registered voters say schools should teach children about global warming.

The Next Generation Science Standards for K-12 STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education in the United States recommend that climate change be included in school science curricula.

About three in four registered voters (77%) agree that schools should teach children about the causes and consequences of global warming, and potential solutions. This includes nearly all liberal and moderate/conservative Democrats (98% and 97% respectively), two-thirds of liberal/moderate Republicans (66%), and more than four in ten conservative Republicans (46%).

Appendix I: Data Tables

Data Tables can be found beginning on p. 32 of the PDF version of the report:

 

Appendix II: Survey Method

The data in this report are based on a nationally representative survey of 1,031 American adults, aged 18 and older. Results are reported for the subset of 896 registered voters who participated in the survey. The survey was conducted December 11 – 22, 2024. All questionnaires were self-administered by respondents in a web-based environment. The median completion time for the survey was 22 minutes.

The sample was drawn from the Ipsos KnowledgePanel®, an online panel of members drawn using probability sampling methods. Prospective members are recruited using a combination of random digit dial and address-based sampling techniques that cover virtually all (non-institutional) residential phone numbers and addresses in the United States. Those contacted who would choose to join the panel but do not have access to the Internet are loaned computers and given Internet access so they may participate.

The sample therefore includes a representative cross-section of American adults—irrespective of whether they have Internet access, use only a cell phone, etc. The sample was weighted, post survey, to match key US Census Bureau demographic norms.

From November 2008 to December 2018, no KnowledgePanel® member participated in more than one Climate Change in the American Mind (CCAM) survey. Beginning with the April 2019 survey, panel members who have participated in CCAM surveys in the past, excluding the most recent two surveys, may be randomly selected for participation. In the current survey, 267 respondents, 239 of whom are registered voters included in this report, participated in a previous CCAM survey.

The survey instrument was designed by Anthony Leiserowitz, Seth Rosenthal, Jennifer Carman, Marija Verner, Matthew Goldberg, and Jennifer Marlon of Yale University, and Edward Maibach, John Kotcher, Teresa Myers, Joshua Ettinger, Julia Fine, and Kathryn Thier of George Mason University. The figures and tables were constructed by Emily Goddard of Yale University.

Margins of error

All samples are subject to some degree of sampling error—that is, statistical results obtained from a sample can be expected to differ somewhat from results that would be obtained if every member of the target population was interviewed. Average margins of error, at the 95% confidence level, are as follows:

• All Registered Voters (n = 890): Plus or minus 3 percentage points.
• Democrats (total; n = 415): Plus or minus 5 percentage points.
• Liberal Democrats (n = 230): Plus or minus 7 percentage points.
• Moderate/conservative Democrats (n = 184): Plus or minus 7 percentage points.
• Republicans (total; n = 372): Plus or minus 5 percentage points.
• Liberal/moderate Republicans (n = 127): Plus or minus 9 percentage points.
• Conservative Republicans (n = 244): Plus or minus 6 percentage points.

Rounding error and tabulation

In data tables, bases specified are unweighted, while percentages are weighted to match national population parameters.

For tabulation purposes, percentage points are rounded to the nearest whole number. As a result, percentages in a given chart may total slightly higher or lower than 100%. Summed response categories (e.g., “strongly support” + “somewhat support”) are rounded after sums are calculated. For example, in some cases, the sum of 25% + 25% might be reported as 51% (e.g., 25.3% + 25.3% = 50.6%, which, after rounding, would be reported as 25% + 25% = 51%).) are rounded after sums are calculated. For example, in some cases, the sum of 25% + 25% might be reported as 51% (e.g., 25.3% + 25.3% = 50.6%, which after rounding would be reported as 25% + 25% = 51%).

Appendix III: Sample Demographics

Sample demographics can be found on p. 51 of the PDF version of the report:

Leiserowitz, A., Maibach, E., Rosenthal, S., Kotcher, J., Goddard, E., Carman, J., Myers, T., Verner, M., Marlon, J., Goldberg, M., Ettinger, J., Fine, J., & Thier, K. (2024). Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy, Fall 2024. Yale University and George Mason University. New Haven, CT: Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.