4. Who is Responsible for Action on Global Warming?

Politics & Global Warming, September 2021

4.1. Seven in ten registered voters want corporations and industry to do more to address global warming. Most also want more action from citizens and government.

Across party lines, registered voters say corporations and industry should do “much more” or “more” to address global warming (73% of all registered voters; including 94% of liberal Democrats, 87% of moderate/conservative Democrats, 71% of liberal/moderate Republicans, and 38% of conservative Republicans).

Half or more registered voters, including large majorities of both liberal and moderate/conservative Democrats and about half or more liberal/moderate Republicans, say citizens themselves (69%), the Republican Party (66%), the U.S. Congress (64%), their local government officials (61%), the Democratic Party (60%), their governor (60%), the media (59%), President Biden (58%), and they themselves (55%), should do more.

About six in ten liberal/moderate Republicans (61%) say their party (the Republican Party) should do more to address global warming, while only about one in four conservative Republicans (24%) say so. Large majorities of both liberal Democrats (90%) and moderate/conservative Democrats (76%) say their party (the Democratic Party) should do more.

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