Environmental Polling Roundup – April 25, 2025
Headlines
LCV + Climate Power – Confidence in Trump to handle energy issues has dropped sharply, as many blame him for rising energy costs; voters are deeply troubled when they hear about his anti-environmental actions so far [Memo]
Data for Progress – Most voters say that the U.S. is already feeling the effects of climate change, and two-thirds expect their area to be impacted [Release, Crosstabs]
PowerLines + Ipsos – Most Americans say that their energy bills are higher now than they were a year ago, and there is widespread confusion and dissatisfaction around utilities [Release, Topline]
Navigator – The majority of voters say that Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration makes them feel more negatively about Trump; climate/environment remains Democrats’ top issue strength over Republicans in voter trust [Release, Deck, Topline]
Key Takeaways
Americans continue to say that their energy bills are rising, and they now blame Trump. Utility bills remain a major cost of living concern for Americans, as new polling by PowerLines and Ipsos finds that the majority of Americans say that they are paying higher electrical and/or gas bills now than they were a year ago and most are also concerned about further cost increases this year.
And while Trump was elected largely on the promise that he could better handle inflation, the cost of living–and high energy costs specifically–are now clear weaknesses for him. LCV and Climate Power find that the majority of voters believe that Trump is making the overall cost of living worse. Voters are also much more likely to say that Trump is causing their electricity bills and gas prices to increase than to say that he is bringing these costs down.
Ahead of the warmer summer months that tend to spike climate concerns, voters already see climate change as a here-and-now issue. Polls in recent years have shown seasonal effects on Americans’ climate attitudes, as Americans are more likely to recognize the impacts of climate change and express concern about the problem during periods of extreme weather–particularly extreme heat.
More than ever before though, recognition that climate change is already here is a baseline attitude. On the heels of new Gallup polling showing that a record-high percentage of Americans believe that the effects of global warming have already begun, Data for Progress finds that most voters–including majorities of Democrats and independents and a plurality of Republicans–say that the United States is already experiencing the impacts of climate change.
Good Data Points to Highlight
- [Water Pollution] 74% of voters are concerned about the Trump administration getting rid of rules that would have protected drinking water from “forever chemicals” [LCV + Climate Power]
- [Polluter Accountability] 73% of voters are concerned about the Trump administration stopping holding corporate polluters accountable for harming the environment and people’s health and coaching them on how to avoid clean air rules [LCV + Climate Power]
- [Clean Air + Water] 71% of voters are concerned about the Trump administration eliminating a record number of clean air and water protections and rolling back rules that were already reducing pollution from power plants and vehicles [LCV + Climate Power]
- [Health] 71% of voters are concerned about the Trump administration ending programs to improve people’s health in communities with high levels of pollution that can cause asthma, heart problems, and other illnesses [LCV + Climate Power]
- [Climate Change] 56% of voters recognize that the U.S. has already started experiencing the effects of climate change, and only 15% believe that the U.S. won’t be impacted in the future [Data for Progress]
Full Roundup
LCV + Climate Power – Confidence in Trump to handle energy issues has dropped sharply, as many blame him for rising energy costs; voters are deeply troubled when they hear about his anti-environmental actions so far [Memo]
The majority of voters say that Trump is making the cost of living worse. Nearly six in ten voters (58%) say that Trump is making the cost of living go up, which reflects a sharp turn in public opinion as Trump’s perceived ability to curb inflation was a key factor in his election.
Confidence in Trump to handle energy issues has dropped by double digits since December, and voters are much more likely to say that he is making energy prices worse than better. The percentage of voters who express confidence in Trump to handle energy policies has dropped by 11 points between December (53%) and April (42%).
There is a clear connection between the cost of living and voters’ decreasing confidence in Trump on energy issues, as voters are 30 points more likely to say that Trump is causing their electricity bills to go up (46%) than causing them to go down (16%). Voters are also 16 points more likely to say that Trump is causing their gas prices to go up (44%) than down (27%).
Voters are deeply troubled by several specific actions that Trump has taken on energy and environmental issues. LCV and Climate Power find that voters are very malleable in their attitudes about Trump’s handling of clean energy and the environment.
After being exposed to information about the administration’s actions, disapproval of Trump’s handling of clean air and water protections increases by 18 points (from 36% to 54%) and disapproval of his handling of clean energy increases by 17 points (from 36% to 53%).
The poll finds that large majorities of voters are concerned about each of the following specific actions by Trump and his administration, with around half expressing “major” concerns about each:
- Getting rid of rules that would have protected drinking water from “forever chemicals” (74% concerned, including 49% with “major” concerns)
- Stopping holding corporate polluters accountable for harming the environment and people’s health and coaching them on how they could legally avoid clean air rules (73% concerned, 48% major concerns)
- Ending programs to improve people’s health in communities with high levels of pollution, which can cause asthma, heart problems, and other illnesses (71% concerned, 48% major concerns)
- Eliminating a record number of clean air and water protections and rolling back rules that were already reducing mercury, arsenic, and lead pollution from power plants and other toxic pollution from cars, trucks, and buses (71% concerned, 46% major concerns)
- Placing tariffs on energy imported from Canada, which could mean higher electricity costs for U.S. consumers (70% concerned, 47% major concerns)
- Eliminating the government department that helps low-income households who can’t afford to pay their heating and cooling bills (70% concerned, 46% major concerns)
Data for Progress – Most voters say that the U.S. is already being impacted by climate change, and two-thirds expect their area to be impacted [Release, Crosstabs]
Most voters, including four in ten Republicans, say that the U.S. has already started to experience the effects of climate change. When asked when the U.S. will begin to feel the effects of climate change, the majority of voters (56%) say that the U.S. is already being impacted.
An additional 10% expect that the U.S. will start feeling the effects of climate change in the next 5-10 years, and an additional 12% expect that the U.S. will feel the effects 10+ years from now. Only 15% of voters believe that the U.S. will not experience the effects of climate change on any timeframe.
Majorities of Democrats (72%) and independents (58%) agree that the U.S. is being impacted by climate change right now, as do a plurality of Republicans (39%). And while less than half of Republicans say that the U.S. is currently being impacted, only around one-quarter of Republicans (27%) say that the country won’t be impacted in the future.
The large majority of voters expect that their own area will be impacted by climate change. Around two-thirds of voters (68%), including large majorities of Democrats (85%) and independents (73%) as well as half of Republicans (50%), believe that climate change will at least “somewhat” affect their own area.
PowerLines + Ipsos – Most Americans say that their energy bills are higher now than they were a year ago, and there is widespread confusion and dissatisfaction around utilities [Release, Topline]
The majority of Americans say that their energy bills have increased in the past year, and most are also concerned about further increases this year. Utility bills remain a major cost of living concern, as three in five Americans (62%) say that their electrical and/or gas bill has increased compared to a year ago.
Further, around three-quarters (73%) are concerned that their electrical and/or gas bill will increase this year.
Most Americans are familiar with their local utilities, but few know much about how their utility sources its energy or how it’s regulated. Around seven in ten (69%) say that they’re at least “somewhat” familiar with their local power and/or gas utilities, though only around half (47%) are at least “somewhat” familiar with how their local utilities source their energy. Just 12% say that they’re “very” familiar with the energy sources that their utility uses.
Additionally, less than half of Americans (39%) are familiar with the state or local regulatory agency that oversees their local power or gas utilities.
Utility bills are sources of financial stress, confusion, and frustration with regulators. Most Americans agree with the following statements about their electricity or gas service:
- I feel like I am powerless to control how much I’m charged for electricity or gas services (80% agree)
- Electrical and gas bills add to my financial stress (62% agree)
Meanwhile, most disagree with the following statements about their local utilities:
- My state government does a good job protecting my interests when it comes to regulating our local electrical or gas utilities (59% disagree)
- I fully understand what drives the costs I’m charged by the local electric or gas utilities (56% disagree)
Navigator – The majority of voters say that Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration makes them feel more negatively about Trump; more than any other issue, voters say that they trust Democrats over Republicans to handle climate change and the environment [Release, Deck, Topline]
Musk is deeply underwater with voters, including independents. As with other public polls, Navigator finds that most voters have unfavorable attitudes about Musk (38% favorable / 56% unfavorable). Voters also tend to strongly dislike him, with 46% saying that they feel “very” unfavorably about him.
Attitudes about Musk are predictably polarized, though it’s noteworthy that Democrats are much more likely to feel negatively about him (7% favorable / 90% unfavorable) than Republicans are to feel positively about him (72% favorable / 21% unfavorable). Additionally, independents are more than twice as likely to view Musk unfavorably than favorably (26% favorable / 60% unfavorable) and close to half of independents (45%) have “very” unfavorable opinions of him.
Most voters say that Musk’s involvement in the administration makes them feel more negatively about Trump. By a 53%-28% margin, voters say that Musk’s involvement in the Trump administration makes them feel more negatively than positively about Trump.
Musk’s role is a clear problem with independents, as 51% say that Musk’s involvement makes them feel more negatively about Trump and just 16% say that Musk’s role makes them feel more positively about Trump.
While most voters are familiar with Project 2025, they are more concerned about Musk’s actions than about Project 2025 being implemented–and even more concerned by specific policies like cutting Social Security and Medicare. In characterizing government cuts and policy changes, Navigator finds that voters are more troubled by Musk’s actions than by Project 2025. However, the description that elicits the greatest concern is one that simply lays out specific parts of the agenda that Republicans are threatening to enact:
- By a 56%-21% margin, voters find it more concerning that “Republicans are attempting to cut Social Security and Medicaid, eliminate the Department of Education, and ban abortion nationwide” (56%) than that “the Project 2025 agenda is being implemented” (21%)
- By a 46%-29% margin, voters find it more concerning that “Republicans are attempting to cut Social Security and Medicaid, eliminate the Department of Education, and ban abortion nationwide” (46%) than that “Elon Musk is being given too much power and is recklessly cutting critical programs” (29%)
- By a 46%-27% margin, voters find it more concerning that “Elon Musk is being given too much power and is recklessly cutting critical programs” (46%) than that “the Project 2025 agenda is being implemented” (27%)
While it’s not the most concerning aspect of the current Republican government, most voters are familiar enough with Project 2025 to offer an opinion on it and their views of the plan are deeply negative (13% positive / 49% negative).
More than any other issue, voters trust Democrats over Republicans to handle climate change and the environment. As has regularly been the case for several years now, Navigator finds that climate change and the environment tops the list of issues that voters trust Democrats over Republicans to handle.
Below are the margins by which voters say that they trust one party over the other to handle various issues:
- Climate change and the environment – Democrats +22
- Abortion – Democrats +16
- Health care – Democrats +16
- Vaccines and disease prevention – Democrats +14
- Transgender issues – Democrats +13
- Social Security and Medicare – Democrats +12
- Democracy – Democrats +12
- Education – Democrats +12
- Housing – Democrats +10
- Handling classified information – Democrats +6
- Censorship of free speech – Democrats +3
- Inflation and the cost of living – Republicans +1
- Jobs and the economy – Republicans +2
- Taxes – Republicans +2
- Corruption in government – Republicans +3
- Guns – Republicans +5
- National security and foreign policy – Republicans +7
- The conflict in Ukraine and Russia – Republicans +7
- Government spending and debt – Republicans +8
- Getting things done – Republicans +9
- The conflict in Israel, Gaza, and the Middle East – Republicans +10
- Crime – Republicans +11
- Immigration and the border – Republicans +20
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