Reading Notes

Politics & Global Warming, September 2021

• This report includes only registered voters.

• References to Republicans and Democrats throughout include respondents who initially identify as either a Republican or Democrat, as well as those who do not initially identify as a Republican or Democrat but who say they “are closer to” one of those parties (i.e., “leaners”) in a follow-up question. The category “Independents” does not include any of these “leaners.”

• 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, is 51%).

• Weighted percentages among registered voters of each of the groups discussed in this report:
  • Democrats (total) including leaners: 48%
    • Liberal Democrats: 26%
    • Moderate/Conservative Democrats: 22%
      • (Moderate Democrats: 18%; Conservative Democrats: 3%)
  • Independents excluding leaners: 10%
  • Republicans (total) including leaners: 37%
    • Liberal/Moderate Republicans: 14%
      • (Liberal Republicans: 1%; Moderate Republicans: 13%)
    • Conservative Republicans: 23%
  • No party/Not interested in politics/No response: 5% (included in results reported for “All Registered Voters” only)

• The full text of all survey items can be found in the data tables.

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

Reading Notes

1. Global Warming and Clean Energy as Government Priorities

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

3. Energy Production as an Economic Issue

4. Who is Responsible for Action on Global Warming?

5. State and Local Government Action on Global Warming

6. Political Actions to Limit Global Warming

7. Educating Students About Global Warming

Appendix I: Data Tables

Appendix II: Survey Method

Appendix III: Demographics