Environmental Polling Roundup – August 2, 2024
HEADLINES
Navigator – Most voters say that weather in their community this summer has been different from past years, primarily because of hotter temperatures; more than in previous years, voters experiencing unusual summer weather attribute it to climate change [Release, Deck]
American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) – Most Americans agree that “environmental injustice” is a problem in the U.S.; Americans are relatively more likely to recognize disparities by income than by race, and few know of government efforts related to environmental justice [Article, Crosstabs]
Data for Progress – Voters overwhelmingly support proposed new OSHA rules to protect workers from extreme heat [Article, Crosstabs]
American Water Works Association (AWWA) – Americans’ ratings of their tap water quality have been declining in recent years, and Black and Hispanic Americans in particular have concerns about water quality and safety; scientists and water utilities are the most trusted communicators about tap water issues [Release, Deck]
[CT, MA, RI] Barr Foundation – Voters in Southern New England widely agree that their states should work together to expand offshore wind in the region; lower energy prices are a critical benefit to highlight [Release, Deck]
GOOD DATA POINTS TO HIGHLIGHT
- [Climate Change] 73% of voters rate climate change as a serious problem for their children and future generations of their family, including 48% who rate it as “very serious” [Navigator]
- [Climate Change] 69% of voters rate climate change as a serious problem for Americans today, including 40% who rate it as “very serious” [Navigator]
- [Climate Change + Extreme Weather] 73% of voters who report unusual summer weather in their area this year say that climate change is to blame [Navigator]
- [Environmental Justice] 70% of Americans support the goals of environmental justice after reading a brief explanation of the concept [AAMC]
- [Environmental Justice] 62% of Americans recognize that environmental injustice is a problem in the United States [AAMC]
- [Extreme Heat] 90% of voters support proposed new rules by OSHA to protect workers from extreme heat [Data for Progress]
- [Issue Priority] More Americans name climate change and the environment as the single “most important issue” to them than any other issue besides inflation/prices and immigration [The Economist + YouGov]
FULL ROUNDUP
Navigator – Most voters say that weather in their community this summer has been different from past years, primarily because of higher temperatures; more than in previous years, voters experiencing unusual summer weather attribute it to climate change [Release, Deck]
Majorities of voters say that this summer’s weather has been different from years past, both in their community and across the globe. Most voters (57%) say that weather globally this summer has been different from years past, and more than half (53%) also say that weather in their community has been different from years past.
Voters in the Northeast (61%) are particularly likely to report unusual summer weather in their community.
While Democrats and independents widely agree that this summer’s weather has been unusual, most Republicans deny it. Both at the global level (41%) and in their own community (38%), less than half of Republicans say that this summer’s weather has been unusual.
Meanwhile, clear majorities of Democrats and independents agree that this summer’s weather has been different from years past – both globally (70% of Democrats and 65% of independents) and in their own community (64% of Democrats and 62% of independents).
Hotter temperatures are the overwhelming reason why voters say that weather has been unusual this summer. Among those who say that weather in their community has been different from past summers, 89% name hotter weather as one of the differences.
Relatively few say that their areas has experienced more droughts (30%), tornadoes (27%), wildfires (26%), or hurricanes (22%), though a substantial minority in the Midwest say that their community has experienced more tornadoes (38%) and four in ten Western voters (42%) say that their area has experienced more wildfires.
Even more than in past years, voters who report unusual summer weather attribute it to climate change. Nearly three-quarters of voters (73%) who say that their area has experienced unusual weather this summer blame it more on climate change than on natural weather patterns.
This is higher than in previous years that Navigator asked this same question, as 67% blamed climate change for their community’s unusual summer weather in July 2023 and 65% blamed climate change in July 2021.
Republicans who report unusual summer weather in their area are considerably more likely to blame it on climate change this year (52%) than they were in 2023 (40%) or 2021 (41%).
Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) – Most Americans agree that “environmental injustice” is a problem in the U.S.; Americans are relatively more likely to recognize disparities by income than by race, and few know of government efforts related to environmental justice [Article, Crosstabs]
Most Americans agree that “environmental injustice” is a problem in the United States. Around three in five Americans (62%) believe that “environmental injustice” is a problem in the country, including particularly high percentages of Black Americans (70%), Hispanic Americans (68%), and Asian Americans (67%).
When asked who is affected by “environmental injustice,” Americans tend to think most of lower-income and unhoused people. Below are the percentages who selected each group as one of the most affected by environmental injustice:
- People with low income – 47%
- People who are unhoused – 42%
- Black, Indigenous, and other people of color – 33%
- Urban populations – 31%
- Farmworkers – 27%
- People with disabilities – 25%
- People aged 65+ – 23%
- People who are incarcerated – 21%
- Rural populations – 21%
- People under 18 – 20%
- People with limited English proficiency – 16%
- Coastal populations – 13%
Americans widely agree that low-income communities are exposed to more environmental hazards, but are less convinced that communities of color are. When asked directly about the experiences of different groups, most Americans (61%) say that low-income communities are more exposed to environmental hazards than wealthy communities. Meanwhile, 44% say that communities of color are more exposed to environmental hazards than White communities.
Poll respondents were considerably more likely to say that these groups are “more exposed to environmental hazards” than to say that they are affected by “environmental injustice,” reflecting how many Americans are confused about the meaning of “environmental injustice.”
Majorities across ideological lines support the goals of environmental justice when they see an explanation. Poll respondents were provided with the following definition of environmental justice:
“Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, with respect to the development, implementation, and enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies.”
In response to this definition, seven in ten Americans (70%) say that they support the goal of environmental justice – including large majorities of liberal Americans (81%) and conservative Americans (71%).
Few are hearing about any federal government effort to advance environmental justice. Only around one in five Americans (22%) say that they are aware of federal activity to address environmental justice.
Data for Progress – Voters overwhelmingly support proposed new OSHA rules to protect workers from extreme heat [Article, Crosstabs]
Voters recognize that extreme heat is a hazard for workers. More than four in ten (84%) say that they are concerned about workers facing extreme heat while at the workplace, including 42% who are “very concerned” about it.
Concern intensifies when voters learn about the lack of safeguards to protect workers from extreme heat. After reading that “employers are not currently obligated to provide workers with protections against extreme heat, like breaks to cool off or drink water,” nearly nine in ten (88%) say that they are concerned about workers facing extreme heat and most (53%) are “very concerned” about it.
Proposed new Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) rules to protect workers from extreme heat earn overwhelming and intense support across party lines. After reading a description of OSHA’s proposed new rules for extreme heat – including requirements for employers to provide accessible drinking water, shaded or indoor break areas, training on symptoms of heat illness, and specific protocols for temperatures in the 80s and 90s – nine in ten voters (90%) say that they support these rules and nearly two-thirds (66%) “strongly” support them.
And despite the deep partisan polarization that we commonly see in polls about government regulations, voters across party lines are closely aligned on this topic: 96% of Democrats, 86% of independents, and 86% of Republicans say that they support these proposed new OSHA rules.
Majorities across party lines also say that they strongly support the proposed rules, including 78% of Democrats, 63% of independents, and 56% of Republicans.
Every element of the proposed new OSHA rules is popular. Every element that was included in the poll earns support from more than four in five voters (and more than three-quarters of Republican voters), including requirements for employers to:
- Provide accessible drinking water – 93% support overall
- Provide designated shaded or indoor break areas – 91%
- Train employees on symptoms of heat illness and emergency protocols, in multiple languages – 91%
- Enforce mandatory rest breaks, buddy systems, or supervisor observations in heat above 90 degrees Fahrenheit – 90%
- Use air conditioning or have air circulation indoors if temperatures reach 80 degrees Fahrenheit or higher – 88%
- Have a protocol for new employees to gradually adjust to working in heat – 83%
Voters also overwhelmingly support additional components that have been proposed by lawmakers to supplement OSHA’s proposed rules, including ensuring that workers are paid for time spent taking heat breaks (83% support) and establishing a third-party hotline where workers can anonymously report violations of the extreme heat rule (83% support).
American Water Works Association (AWWA) – Americans’ ratings of their tap water quality have been declining in recent years, and Black and Hispanic Americans in particular have concerns about water quality and safety; scientists and water utilities are the most trusted communicators about tap water issues [Release, Deck]
Americans generally say that their tap water is safe, though there are notable differences across racial groups. Around seven in ten Americans (72%) say that their tap water is at least “somewhat” safe.
Nearly three-quarters of White Americans (74%) rate their tap water as safe, compared to 65% of Black Americans and 63% of Hispanic Americans.
Public perceptions about the quality of tap water have dropped in recent years. Three in five Americans (60%) say that the quality of their tap water is “excellent’ or “good,” compared to 70% in June 2022 and 65% in May 2023.
White Americans (62%) are more likely to rate their tap water quality as “excellent” or “good” than Black Americans (56%) or Hispanic Americans (54%).
Americans overwhelmingly support federal assistance to help pay water bills, as one in three report struggling personally to pay their water bills. More than three-quarters (77%) support continuing federal assistance to help pay water bills, a seven-point increase since last year (70% in May 2023).
Around one-third of Americans (34%) say that they’ve struggled at least “some” to pay their water bills, including particularly high percentages of Black Americans (41%), Hispanic Americans (39%), and rural Americans (41%).
Americans trust scientists and water utilities the most for information about their water supply. Large majorities say that they have at least “some” trust in information about their water supply from scientists (68%, including 30% who have “a lot” of trust) and from their water utility (70%, including 24% who have “a lot” of trust).
Most Americans also trust information about their water supply when it comes from their local government (59%), an environmental group (57%), or their state government (57%).
[CT, MA, RI] Barr Foundation – Voters in Southern New England widely agree that their states should work together to expand offshore wind in the region; lower energy prices are a critical benefit to highlight [Release, Deck]
Voters in Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island widely support their states transitioning from “natural” gas to renewable energy. Majorities of voters in Connecticut (68%), Massachusetts (75%), and Rhode Island (67%) support their states transitioning from getting most of their heating and electricity from gas to generating heating and electricity from entirely renewable energy sources.
Solar, wind, and hydropower are all overwhelmingly popular energy sources in Southern New England. Large majorities in each state favor using more solar power (78%+), hydropower (74%+), and wind power (70%+) to generate electricity.
Meanwhile, less than half in each state support using more natural gas or nuclear power.
Voters in each state, including residents of coastal counties, widely back proposed tri-state collaboration to expand offshore wind in the region. Majorities of voters in Connecticut (75%), Massachusetts (77%), and Rhode Island (67%) support the three states working together to build offshore wind farms to generate electricity.
Across states, there is virtually no difference in support for the proposal between residents of coastal counties (72%) and residents of non-coastal counties (74%).
Electricity prices, ocean ecosystems and marine life, and climate change are the top considerations for voters in evaluating offshore wind. When asked to rank the two most important factors in judging whether offshore wind is good or bad for their state, these three considerations consistently ranked among the most important in each state – ahead of other factors such as electricity reliability, cleanliness of air and water, health, energy independence, jobs, and tourism.
While voters expect offshore wind expansion to have a positive impact on most dimensions – including electricity prices and jobs – there are clear concerns about the impacts on the ocean and marine life. Majorities in each state believe that building offshore wind projects to generate electricity will have a positive impact on each of the following:
- Jobs and the economy – 65%+
- Energy independence – 64%+
- Climate change – 57%+
- Electricity prices – 53%+
- The cleanliness of air and water – 52%+
However, substantial percentages (42% in Connecticut, 49% in Massachusetts, and 51% in Rhode Island) believe that offshore wind projects will have a negative impact on ocean ecosystems and marine life.
In other polls, we have seen misinformation about harm to whales lead to dips in support for offshore wind. One clear example is in New Jersey, where support for offshore wind has decreased sharply in recent years as large numbers of residents attribute whale beachings to offshore wind development (despite marine scientists consistently saying that there is no link between whale deaths and offshore wind).
Advocates can strengthen and expand support for offshore wind in the region by leaning into the benefits for electricity prices and countering misinformation about the impacts on marine life. The poll finds that voters with different stances on the tri-state offshore wind proposal tend to have different priorities: those who “strongly” favor the proposal rank climate change as the most important consideration for them, those who “somewhat” favor the proposal rank electricity prices as the most important consideration, and those who oppose the proposal rank ocean ecosystems and marine life as the most important consideration.
These findings indicate that clean energy advocates can bolster support for offshore wind with targeted messaging, using the climate benefits of offshore wind energy to rally “base” supporters, focusing on electricity cost savings with persuadable audiences, and countering misinformation about the threats to marine life in order to soften opposition.
Related Resources
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