Environmental Polling Roundup – December 8, 2023
HEADLINES
ecoAmerica – Americans are far more likely to support investment in solar and wind than other energy sources, and the public continues to underestimate pollution from “natural” gas [Website, Report, Topline]
[Youth] LCV – Young Americans don’t believe the Biden administration has done enough to combat climate change or to hold oil and gas companies accountable; young Americans particularly want to see the administration close outdated oil and gas pipelines [Website, Deck]
[Youth] LCV Victory Fund + Climate Power – President Biden is underperforming with young voters, but messaging about his administration’s climate and clean energy accomplishments is impactful [Deck, Memo]
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Americans need much more education on the harms of “natural” gas. New polling by ecoAmerica is the latest to find that Americans widely underestimate the damage that natural gas causes to public health and the climate, with only about half of Americans recognizing that natural gas contributes to unhealthy air pollution and climate change. Other research shows that the word “natural” in “natural gas” leads to misconceptions about its safety. Relative to alternative terms like “methane gas,” researchers have found that Americans have more positive attitudes toward the term “natural gas” and are less likely to associate it with pollution.
- Young Americans are largely in the dark about President Biden’s climate accomplishments. New polls from LCV and from the LCV Victory Fund and Climate Power both find that young Americans are frustrated with President Biden’s handling of climate change. These polls show that young Americans correctly feel that Biden could be doing more on climate change, and the LCV poll finds that young Americans particularly want him to stand up more to the oil and gas industry. At the same time, these polls find that education about the climate policies that Biden has successfully enacted increases young people’s confidence in him to handle the issue.
GOOD DATA POINTS TO HIGHLIGHT
- [Clean Energy] 73% of Americans say that the United States should invest more in the research and development of wind and solar energy in the next few years [ecoAmerica]
- [Issue Priority] More Americans name climate change and the environment as the single “most important issue” to them than any other issue aside from inflation/prices and health care [The Economist + YouGov]
- [Youth + Fossil Fuels] 64% of young Americans aged 18-34 support closing outdated oil and gas pipelines [LCV]
- [Youth + Fossil Fuels] 59% of young Americans aged 18-34 support preventing new oil drilling on federal lands and waters [LCV]
- [Youth + Fossil Fuels] 54% of young Americans aged 18-34 support halting the expansion of methane gas exports [LCV]
FULL ROUNDUP
ecoAmerica – Americans are far more likely to support investment in solar and wind than other energy sources, and the public continues to underestimate pollution from “natural” gas [Website, Report, Topline]
The latest edition of ecoAmerica’s “American Climate Perspectives” Survey finds that Americans continue to widely back investment in clean energy, while misperceptions about gas and nuclear energy remain very common.
Americans are far more likely to support investment in wind and solar than other energy sources. Nearly three-quarters of Americans (73%) say that the United States should be spending more on research and development of wind and solar energy in the next few years. A little over half (53%) also say that the country should invest more in next generation nuclear energy, while less than half support greater investment in the research and development of fossil fuels including oil (39%), “natural” gas (39%), and coal (31%).
The public recognizes oil and coal as dirty energy sources, but continues to underestimate the pollution from “natural” gas. Clear majorities say that oil (71%) and coal (68%) contribute at least “some” to unhealthy air pollution and climate change, but only around half (52%) say that natural gas does.
In fact, Americans are about equally likely to say that nuclear energy (54%) contributes at least “some” to unhealthy air pollution and climate change than to say that natural gas contributes to these problems.
Americans are increasingly comfortable with nuclear energy. Despite viewing it as a fairly polluting energy source, about half of Americans (52%) say that they support nuclear power after learning that traditional nuclear power plants produce around 20% of our electricity.
Gallup relatedly found earlier this year that Americans’ support for nuclear energy has reached its highest point in nearly a decade. Both ecoAmerica and Gallup find that support for nuclear energy is highest among self-identified Republicans.
Additionally, while ecoAmerica find that most Americans have at least “some” concerns about health and safety (74%), waste disposal (73%), security/weaponization (68%), habitat loss (65%), and costs (63%) from upgrading nuclear energy, all of these concerns are lower now than when ecoAmerica previously polled on this topic in 2018.
[Youth] LCV – Young Americans don’t believe the Biden administration has done enough to combat climate change or to hold oil and gas companies accountable; young Americans particularly want to see the administration close outdated oil and gas pipelines [Website, Deck]
LCV finds that President Biden is deeply underwater with young Americans aged 18-34. This group is twice as likely to say that Biden is doing a “poor” or “not so good” job as president (65%) as to say that he is doing a “good” or “excellent” job (32%).
Biden is even further underwater with this group on his ratings for combating climate change (24% excellent or good / 59% not so good or poor) and for holding oil and gas companies accountable (15% excellent or good / 61% not so good or poor).
Information about Biden’s environmental accomplishments has the potential to shift young people’s attitudes about him, however. Large majorities of young Americans say that they feel more favorably toward Biden in response to hearing about actions that he has taken on climate and the environment – especially cleaning up orphaned wells, 30×30, clean energy investments, and tax rebates.
Accomplishments that particularly resonate with young Americans include:
- Cleaning up hazardous old oil and gas wells that leak pollution into communities (81% say that this makes them feel more favorable toward Biden)
- Putting the nation on track to protect 30% of public lands and waters by 2030 (70% more favorable)
- Investing in new wind and solar farms and rooftop solar to generate more clean energy (69% more favorable)
- Giving tax rebates and incentives to people who install energy efficient appliances, heat pumps, or rooftop solar panels (69% more favorable)
Moving forward, young people are eager to see action to limit fossil fuel extraction. Majorities support each of the following potential actions:
- Closing outdated oil and gas pipelines (64% support)
- Preventing new oil drilling on federal lands and waters (59%)
- Halting the expansion of methane gas exports (54%)
- Requiring all sales of new vehicles to be zero emissions by 2050 (53%)
- Declaring a national emergency on the climate crisis (53%)
Pulling more from the deck’s “Key Findings”:
“Young people have critical views of the political system and the direction of the country. They have net-negative views of Biden, Trump, and both parties and say the country is going in the wrong direction.
Young people don’t think the Biden Administration has done enough to address climate change or hold oil and gas companies accountable, and they want to see more action. Going forward, they want to see his administration close outdated oil and gas pipelines, prevent drilling on federal lands and waters, and halt the expansion of methane gas exports.
Biden’s job rating improves after they learn more about his climate record. More than two-thirds say that his work on orphaned wells, 30×30, renewables, and rebates for climate-friendly home improvements make them feel more favorable toward Biden.”
And pulling from the deck’s “Recommendations” slide:
“Make sure the public learns about Biden’s robust climate record, including his work to hold oil and gas companies accountable. Many people — especially young people — have a void of information about what Biden has accomplished on climate. Thankfully, they respond very well to learning about Biden’s robust climate record, including his work to hold oil and gas companies accountable, advance clean energy, and conservation. His efforts to clean up hazardous old oil and gas wells that leak pollution into communities was the most persuasive across political parties, with majorities of Republicans and Independents saying it gave them a more favorable view.
When communicating with policymakers about next steps on climate, encourage leaders to close outdated oil and gas pipelines. This feels like a natural complement to a communications campaign around closing orphaned wells and is the most popular of the potential future climate actions we tested, both overall and among Independents. The fact that these wells and pipelines are outdated is critical—this is about getting rid of what’s no longer needed to modernize infrastructure in addition to preventing pollution.
Given that people respond best to Biden’s accomplishments, the administration should continue to build his climate record. Given that his current record is still net negative on actions to hold oil and gas companies accountable, he should take additional actions in this area, with closing outdated infrastructure (cleaning up hazardous old oil and gas wells and pipelines), preventing new drilling, and halting expansion of methane gas exports being the most popular.”
[Youth] LCV Victory Fund + Climate Power – President Biden is underperforming with young voters, but messaging about his administration’s climate and clean energy accomplishments is impactful [Deck, Memo]
Like the LCV poll above, this recent research by the LCV Victory Fund and Climate Power shows that young Americans are dissatisfied with President Biden’s handling of climate change but are moved by information about the administration’s climate and clean energy accomplishments.
This research by the LCV Victory Fund and Climate Power included qualitative research (online discussion boards) in addition to an online survey, and it’s worth noting that they targeted a specific segment of young Americans: young voters aged 18-39 in nine battleground states, excluding young voters who voted for Trump in 2020.
These findings therefore draw from a particular universe of young voters who have high potential to impact the 2024 election and who are “winnable” for the Biden campaign.
Pasting from the deck’s “Context” and “Strategic Imperatives” slides:
“Context
- Young voters are a critical voting bloc for reelecting President Biden, and there is much work to be done to grow President Biden’s support among them. Younger voters do not give President Biden the credit he deserves for his leadership on climate change and other key issues, often because they lack awareness and judge him against an ideal standard.
- Younger voters are worried and overwhelmed when they think about their future; they approach the election in a negative frame of mind. Like the rest of the electorate, the cost of living is a key concern for younger voters—especially the cost of housing and rent.
- Climate change is a key vote driver for many younger voters. Over half (58%) say the issue of climate change is very important to them personally and 36% say it is one of the top-tier issues that will matter most to them in voting next year. Despite their downbeat outlook, the transition to clean energy is one development that stands out as a cause for hope and optimism.
Strategic Imperatives
- Job #1: Close the knowledge gap and make sure younger voters know about the important actions President Biden has taken to confront the climate crisis and advance America’s transition from fossil fuels to clean energy.
- Demonstrate that meaningful action and progress on climate change and clean energy is already happening because of President Biden’s leadership. Young voters want to hear about concrete steps that are happening right now, and often react with skepticism to claims about outcomes that might occur five or ten years from now.
Compelling examples of things happening right now because of President Biden include:
- Hundreds of thousands of new, good-paying clean energy jobs across the country
- Tens of thousands signing up for Biden’s Climate Corps
- Work being done to modernize and strengthen the electricity grid
- Actions to break the stranglehold of Big Oil over our energy future and stop price gouging by oil company CEOs
- Put President Biden’s leadership and accomplishments on climate change and clean energy in an understandable comparative context, rather than having his record judged against an ideal standard.
- Make it clear that Biden has done more than any other president to confront and address climate change.
- Compare and contrast Biden’s determination to continue leading the country toward clean energy with Trump’s determination to take us backward and make us more dependent on fossil fuels.
- Use President Biden’s leadership on clean energy to strengthen the case that he is focused on lowering costs. Strong messaging language:
‘Joe Biden understands that the rising cost of living is a burden for many young Americans and is taking action to make it easier for them to afford healthcare, a college education, and clean energy. While clean energy is our future, it is not within everyone’s reach today. That’s why Biden is investing in it–to lower costs so it’s truly affordable. He’s making sure that switching to clean energy is a real choice for those who want it, and not a luxury only available to the wealthy.’
- Recognize that connecting with younger voters requires a different approach and we must meet them where they are.
- Younger adults often come across news only in the course of doing other things online (mostly on their phones). The youngest voters mostly get their information from TikTok and Instagram.
- Trusted influencers are an important conduit, but delivery needs to feel authentic.”
Related Resources
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