Environmental Polling Roundup – April 17, 2026
Headlines
Gallup – Americans give their worst-ever assessment of the country’s environmental quality; drinking water pollution remains the public’s top environmental concern [Environmental Quality Article, Climate Change Article]
Pew – Most Americans continue to say that the country should prioritize renewables over fossil fuels, despite a sharp turn by Republicans against the clean energy transition [Website, Report, Topline]
Climate and Community Institute + Data for Progress – Voters say that the government can and should address climate change and the cost of living at the same time [Website, Crosstabs]
Navigator – Voters hold Trump responsible for rising gas prices and trust Democrats more on affordability issues [Website, Deck, Topline]
ecoAmerica – Americans believe that they care more about climate change than the people around them do [Website, Report, Topline]
Key Takeaways
Americans reject the idea that we need to sacrifice environmental protections for economic growth or energy production. New polling by Gallup finds that majorities of Americans believe that “protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of curbing economic growth” and that “protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of limiting the amount of energy supplies (such as oil, gas and coal) which the United States produces.”
Gallup has been tracking these environment/economy and environment/energy tradeoffs for more than two decades, and their tracking data serves as a good example of “thermostatic” public opinion–the process by which public attitudes move in the opposite direction of government policy. The margin in favor of environmental protection on these questions expanded during Trump’s first term, tightened under Biden, and is now widening again as Americans react to the Trump administration’s environmental rollbacks.
The Gallup data also indicates that Americans recognize how harmful the Trump administration’s environmental policies are: the percentage of Americans rating the quality of the environment in the country as “good” or “excellent” is the lowest in the history of Gallup’s tracking going back to 2001, and the percentage who say that U.S. environmental quality is getting worse is at its highest point since 2008.
While the Trump administration has consistently used economic justifications for eliminating environmental safeguards, Americans don’t believe that economic growth has to come at the expense of the environment. New polling by the Climate and Community Institute and Data for Progress finds that voters widely believe that economic policy can lower costs while reducing emissions at the same time. And when asked whether they would prefer for elected officials to focus on the cost of living or climate change, most voters reject this false choice and say that elected officials should address both issues together through coordinated policies.
Voters understand that Trump and his war with Iran are causing the spike in gas prices. Navigator finds that nearly two-thirds of voters (65%)–including more than one-third of Republicans (37%)–disapprove of Trump’s handling of gas prices. And when asked who or what they blame for rising gas prices, voters assign the most blame to the war in Iran and to Trump and Republicans in Congress.
Voters’ trust in Trump to address the cost of living was declining even before the recent spike in gas prices, and Navigator now finds that voters trust Democrats over Republicans to handle the costs of gas prices and utilities as well as other expenses such as groceries and housing–a remarkable shift after Trump’s perceived edge on affordability issues propelled his electoral victory 17 months ago.
Good Data Points to Highlight
[Environmental Action] 63% of Americans say that the U.S. government is doing too little to protect the environment, the highest percentage in Gallup’s tracking since 1992 [Gallup]
[Environment & Energy] By a 21-point margin, Americans say that environmental protection should be prioritized (57%) over the development of U.S. energy supplies such as oil, gas, and coal (36%) [Gallup]
[Climate & Costs] 70% of voters say that economic policy can lower costs while directly reducing emissions [Climate & Community Institute + Data for Progress]
[Pollution] 88% of voters say that it’s important to them that elected officials take action to reduce harmful pollution, including 50% who say that it’s “very” important [Climate & Community Institute + Data for Progress]
[Clean Energy] 79% of voters say that it’s important to them that elected officials take action to invest in clean energy, including 43% who say that it’s “very” important [Climate & Community Institute + Data for Progress]
[Clean Energy] 65% of Americans say that the federal government should encourage the production of wind and solar power, while less than half say that it should encourage nuclear power, oil and gas drilling, or coal mining [Pew]
Full Roundup
Gallup – Americans give their worst-ever assessment of the country’s environmental quality; drinking water pollution remains the public’s top environmental concern [Environmental Quality Article, Climate Change Article]
Americans rate U.S. environmental quality worse than at any other point in Gallup’s tracking. Only around one-third of Americans (35%) rate the overall quality of the environment in the country as “good” or “excellent,” which is the lowest rating that Gallup has found on this question since it started asking it in 2001.
Americans’ rating of the country’s environmental quality dropped by eight points from last March to this March (from 43% good/excellent to 35% good/excellent), coinciding roughly with Trump’s first year back in office.
Americans say that environmental quality is getting worse, as they widely agree that the country is doing too little to protect the environment. Roughly three-quarters (66%) believe that the quality of the environment in the country is getting worse, while only around one-quarter (27%) believe that it’s getting better.
The percentage saying that environmental quality is getting worse is the highest that Gallup has found on this question since 2008.
Additionally, more than three in five Americans (63%) say that the U.S. government is doing too little to protect the environment–the highest percentage on this question since 1992.
Republicans are far more optimistic than Democrats or independents about the country’s environmental situation. The majority of Republicans rate the quality of the environment in the U.S. as “good” or “excellent” (63%), and most Republicans (60%) also say that environmental quality is getting better. Part of this positivity is surely driven by Republicans’ backing of the current administration, though Republicans also tend to hold rosier views of the country’s environmental quality even under Democratic administrations. Every time that Gallup has asked Americans to rate the country’s environmental quality going back to 2001, Republicans have assigned more positive ratings than independents or Democrats.
Republicans’ current optimism contrasts sharply with the views of Democrats and independents. Fewer independents (34%) rate the country’s environmental quality as “good” or “excellent” than at any point since 2008, and Democrats’ rating of the country’s environmental quality (16% good/excellent) is the lowest in the history of Gallup’s tracking.
Further, a record-high percentage of Democrats (91%) say that the government is doing too little to protect the environment. The percentage of independents saying that the country is doing too little to protect the environment (67%) is only one point off the previous high for independents in Gallup’s tracking.
By wide margins, Americans prioritize environmental protection over economic growth and energy production. Americans are 24 points more likely to agree that “protection of the environment should be given priority, even at the risk of curbing economic growth” (58%) than to agree that “economic growth should be given priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent” (34%). The margin in favor of environmental protection on this question has grown by eight points since last year (from 16 points to 24 points in favor of environmental protection).
Additionally, Americans are 21 points more likely to agree that “protection of the environment should given priority, even at the risk of limiting the amount of energy supplies (such as oil, gas and coal) which the United States produces” (57%) than to agree that “development of U.S. energy supplies (such as oil, gas and coal) should be given priority, even if the environment suffers to some extent” (36%). The majority prioritizing environmental protection on this question has more than doubled (from 8 points to 21 points) since Gallup last asked it in 2024.
Both of these questions are good examples of “thermostatic” public opinion, wherein the public’s attitudes move in the opposite direction of government policy. The margins in favor of environmental protection on these questions expanded during Trump’s first term in office, then tightened under Biden, and are now widening again.
Americans’ prioritization of environmental protection over energy production is particularly notable as Gallup fielded this survey from March 2 to 18, at a time of rapidly rising gasoline prices.
Democrats and independents both prioritize environmental protection over economic growth and energy production, while Republicans take the opposite view. Democrats overwhelmingly say that environmental protection should be prioritized over economic growth (78%) and energy development (86%), while majorities of Republicans say that energy development (76%) and economic growth (62%) should take precedence over the environment.
Independents, meanwhile, are about twice as likely to prioritize environmental protection over both economic growth (61% environment / 31% economic growth) and energy production (59% environment / 31% energy production).
Americans continue to rate drinking water pollution as their top environmental concern. The majority of Americans (56%) say that they worry “a great deal” about pollution of drinking water, ranking it as the most salient concern out of eight environmental problems that Gallup asked about:
- Pollution of drinking water – 56% worry “a great deal”
- Maintenance of the nation’s supply of fresh water for household needs – 53%
- Pollution of rivers, lakes and reservoirs – 50%
- The environmental impact of artificial intelligence, or AI, data centers – 46%
- Global warming or climate change – 44%
- The loss of tropical rainforests – 41%
- Air pollution – 40%
- Extinction of plant and animal species – 37%
Americans’ concern about climate change is also at a near-record high level. While it doesn’t rank especially high relative to other environmental concerns in Gallup’s survey, the percentage of Americans who say that they worry “a great deal” about global warming or climate change (44%) is only two points off its highest mark in the history of Gallup’s tracking (46%, in the final year of Trump’s first term).
The percentages of Americans saying that the effects of global warming have already begun (61%) and that global warming will pose a serious threat to them or their way of life in their lifetime (45%) are also close to their highest points since Gallup began tracking these questions in the late 1990s.
Democrats differ from other groups in prioritizing climate change ahead of other environmental concerns. More Democrats say that they worry “a great deal” about climate change (72%) than any of the other seven environmental problems that Gallup asked about.
Meanwhile, pollution of drinking water ranks as the top environmental concern for both independents (61% worry “a great deal”) and Republicans (38% worry “a great deal”). While a substantial minority of independents (44%) say that they worry “a great deal” about climate change, it ranks as one of their lower priorities relative to the other environmental problems that Gallup asked about.
Among Republicans, fewer say that they worry “a great deal” about climate change (6%) than any of the other environmental problems in the survey.
Pew – Most Americans continue to say that the country should prioritize renewables over fossil fuels, despite a sharp turn by Republicans against the clean energy transition [Website, Report, Topline]
Americans continue to say that the country should prioritize wind and solar energy over fossil fuels. By a 15-point margin, Americans say that expanding wind and solar production (57%) is a more important priority for the country’s energy supply than expanding exploration and production of oil, coal and natural gas (42%). The margin in favor of renewables on this question has tightened by six points from a year ago, however (from 21 points to 15 points).
Renewables remain Americans’ most favored energy sources, ahead of fossil fuels and nuclear energy. Nearly two-thirds of Americans (65%) agree that the federal government should encourage production of wind and solar power. Meanwhile, less than half say that the government should encourage nuclear power (45%), only around two in five say that it should encourage oil and gas drilling (38%), and just 27% say that it should encourage coal mining.
On balance, Americans view solar and wind as less costly than other energy sources but also less reliable. A plurality of Americans believe that solar costs consumers less than most other energy sources (37% costs less / 31% about the same / 30% costs more), and Americans are also more likely to rate wind power as more affordable than less affordable when compared to other energy sources (34% costs less / 35% about the same / 28% costs more).
However, Americans are also substantially more likely to believe that solar (26% more reliable / 36% about the same / 37% less reliable) and wind (20% more reliable / 33% about the same / 45% less reliable) are less reliable than other energy sources than to say that solar and wind are more reliable than other energy sources.
Republican support for the clean energy transition has halved in recent years. While Republicans were 30 points more likely to say that the country should prioritize renewables (65%) than fossil fuels (35%) in 2020, their support for the clean energy transition has cratered as Trump has taken control of the party and railed against clean energy in recent years. Now, Republicans are 43 points more likely to say that the country should prioritize fossil fuel expansion (71%) than the expansion of wind and solar (28%).
The percentage of Republicans who say that the federal government should encourage wind and solar production has also dropped by 10 points (from 54% to 44%) since 2022. Over the same four-year period, the percentages of Republicans who say that the government should encourage oil and gas drilling (+11, from 51% to 62%) nuclear power (+12, from 42% to 54%), and coal mining (+13, from 32% to 45%) have all increased by double digits.
This is not to say that Republicans outright oppose clean energy production. Republicans tend to support a wide range of energy sources, both clean and dirty. Pew found last year, for example, that most Republicans still say that the country should expand solar power and around half want to expand wind power. However, Republican support for these clean energy sources has been declining in recent years and they have become more entrenched in opposing the phaseout of fossil fuels.
Climate and Community Institute + Data for Progress – Voters say that the government can and should address climate change and the cost of living at the same time [Website, Crosstabs]
Most voters believe that climate change and extreme weather impact the cost of living. Around three in five voters (61%) believe that climate change impacts the rising cost of living at least “somewhat,” though only 19% believe that climate change “greatly” impacts the cost of living.
The connection between extreme weather and the cost of living is relatively more intuitive to voters. In a split-sample experiment, the poll finds that four in five voters (80%) recognize that “natural disasters, heat waves, and prolonged droughts” have an impact on the rising cost of living. This includes around one-third (34%) who believe that these extreme weather events “greatly” impact the cost of living.
Voters believe that the government can and should address climate change and the cost of living at the same time. More than two-thirds of voters (70%) agree that economic policy can lower costs while directly reducing emissions, including majorities of Democrats (78%), independents (65%), and Republicans (65%).
And when asked to choose whether elected officials should prioritize the cost of living or climate change, most voters reject this false choice. The majority (55%) say that elected officials should address both issues together through coordinated policies, while around one-third (35%) say that policymakers should focus primarily on the cost of living and a small percentage (4%) say that policymakers should focus primarily on climate change.
In addition to the cost of living, voters strongly prioritize action on pollution and protection from weather disasters. While the cost of living is clearly voters’ number one priority, they also agree on the strong importance of tackling environmental issues at the same time. Below are the percentages who say that it’s important to them that elected officials take action on various priorities:
- Lowering the cost of living – 96% important, including 75% who say that it’s “very” important
- Protecting people and their homes from natural disasters – 91% important, 54% “very”
- Making home insurance more affordable – 89% important, 55% “very”
- Reducing harmful pollution – 88% important, 50% “very”
- Strengthening the public sector – 84% important, 41% “very”
- Improving environmental sustainability – 82% important, 44% “very”
- Investing in clean energy – 79% important, 43% “very”
- Setting limits for greenhouse gases – 73% important, 36% “very”
- Regulating the private sector – 68% important, 28% “very”
Navigator – Voters hold Trump responsible for rising gas prices and trust Democrats more on affordability issues [Website, Deck, Topline]
Voters continue to rate gasoline as the fastest-rising household expense. Gas prices quickly became voters’ number one cost concern when they started to spike last month, and that trend has continued as gas prices remain over $4.00 per gallon and the conflict in Iran lingers on.
Below are the percentages of voters who say that various costs are rising:
- The cost of gas – 87% going up, including 60% who say that it’s going up “a lot”
- The cost of groceries – 82% going up, 47% “a lot”
- Your costs generally – 76% going up, 34% “a lot”
- The cost of utilities – 74% going up, 36% “a lot”
- The cost of health care – 65% going up, 30% “a lot”
- The cost of child care – 53% going up, 21% “a lot”
Trump and his war with Iran are the clearest reasons for the spike in gas prices. When asked to choose up to three people or causes that are most responsible for rising gas prices from a list, voters attribute the most blame to the war with Iran and to Trump and Republicans in Congress:
- The war with Iran – 71% blame this in their top three
- Trump and Republicans in Congress – 48%
- Oil and gas companies – 36%
- Insufficient oil and natural gas production – 19%
- Democrats in Congress – 15%
- Seasonal changes like more people driving in the spring and summer – 11%
- Environmental regulations – 10%
Nearly two-thirds of voters disapprove of Trump’s handling of gas prices, including a significant share of Republicans. Trump is 37 points underwater in his handling of gas prices (28% approve / 65% disapprove), and nearly half of voters (48%) “strongly” disapprove of how he is handling the issue.
Large majorities of Democrats (6% approve / 91% disapprove) and independents (15% approve / 72% disapprove) say that they disapprove of Trump’s handling of gas prices, as do more than one-third of Republicans (55% approve / 37% disapprove).
Voters now trust Democrats over Republicans to handle various costs, from gas and utilities to child care and housing. With gas prices now layering on top of other rising expenses that have been squeezing voters during Trump’s second term, voters now say that they trust Democrats more than Republicans to handle various cost of living issues.
Below are the margins by which voters say that they trust one party over the other to handle different issues:
- Child care costs – Democrats +14
- Health care – Democrats +13
- Education costs – Democrats +9
- Grocery prices – Democrats +8
- Housing costs – Democrats +7
- Looking out for people like me – Democrats +7
- Utility costs – Democrats +7
- Gas prices – Democrats +4
- Inflation and the cost of living – Democrats +4
- Jobs and the economy – Democrats +2
- Taxes – EVEN
- Foreign conflicts – Republicans +3
- The conflict with Iran – Republicans +3
- National security and foreign policy – Republicans +6
- Immigration – Republicans +7
ecoAmerica – Americans believe that they care more about climate change than the people around them do [Website, Report, Topline]
Around two-thirds of Americans say that they’re concerned about climate change, including majorities across party lines. Nearly seven in ten Americans (68%) say that they are least “somewhat” concerned about climate change, including more than four in five Democrats (84%), around two-thirds of independents (66%), and the majority of Republicans (55%).
Only half of Americans believe that others around them are concerned about climate change. Americans rate the climate concerns of those around them lower than their own personal concerns, with only half (50%) believing that people around them are at least “somewhat” concerned about climate change. Americans are also nearly three times as likely to say that they are “very” concerned about climate change (36%) than to say that people around them are “very” concerned about the issue (13%).
These results indicate the need for more low-lift opportunities for Americans to signal their climate concerns and perhaps make those around them feel more comfortable doing the same.
Related Resources
Environmental Polling Roundup – August 6th, 2021
This post includes a roundup of climate + environment headlines from this week’s public polls, good data points to highlight, and a full roundup including key takeaways from each poll.
Environmental Polling Roundup – August 23rd, 2021
This post includes a roundup of climate + environment headlines from this week’s public polls, good data points to highlight, and a full roundup including key takeaways from each poll.
Environmental Polling Roundup – August 27th, 2021
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