American Climate Perspectives 2017 Annual Summary

Belief and Concern: Concern for Our Climate Climbs | 3
American Climate Perspectives:
2017 Annual Summary

Belief and Concern: Concern for our climate climbs
American Climate Perspectives: Annual Summary | 2

Majority of Americans think the rise in global tempertatures is due to human activities,
but not all agree it is the sole cause:
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
201720162015
The Earth is warming mostly
because of human activity (Pew)
Climate change is happening mainly
due to human activities
(ecoAmerica)
Global warming is caused mostly
by human activities (Yale)
Climate change is caused entirely
by human activity
(Saint Leo University)
Global warming is caused
by human activities (Gallup)55
16
22
45
65
16
26
44
68
16
38
58
5553
% of Americans that believe...

Within the past year, personal concern has soared and reached an all time high over the
past 30 years:
% of Americans that are personally concerned a great deal about global warming or climate change
40%
80%
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
1989
1990
1991
1997
1999
2000
2001
2002
2003
2004
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Gallup
Yale
Quinnnipiac University
Saint Leo University
24%
41%
45%
73%
75%
76%
66%62%
49%
61%

Americans are concerned about the enviroment’s quality:
Gallup (2004-2017)
% of Americans that are...
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Worried a great deal about the
quality of the environment
Concerned a great deal about
pollution of drinking water
59%58%
48%
60%
63%
43%
31%
47%
34%35%
53%

More Americans think the quality our environment is getting worse:
Gallup (2013-2017)
Note: Large partisan gaps exist amongst this question with 53% of Republicans saying the future of the
environment is getting better, whereas only 22% of Democrats agree with this.
% of Americans that think the quality of the environment is getting better vs. getting worse
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
41% 41%
37%
36%
42%
49%
50% 51%
56% 57%
Getting worse
Getting better

While many pit the economy against our environment, Americans agree the
environment is a priority:
Gallup (1984-2017)
% of Americans that priortize...
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
1984
1990
1991
1992
1995
1997
1998
1999
20
0
0
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
20
0
6
2007
20
0
820
0
9
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
Environment
Economic growth32%
19%
24%
44%
27%
51%
54%
41%
35%
56%
71%
56% 47%
55%
42%
46%

In context of issues our nation faces, climate remains low:
What would you think is the most important problem facing the country today?
August 2017 (%) April 2017 (%) October 2016 (%)
Economy in general 20 24 31
Unemployment/jobs 7 5 6
Dissatisfaction with
government/poor leadership
20 21 12
Healthcare 17 9 4
Unifying the country 6 7 2
Race relations/racism 7 4 10
Education 3 3 2
Environment/pollution 2 4 3
Gallup (2016-2017)

Energy: American support for clean energy mounts

Americans support clean energy:
% of Americans that favor expansion or more production of...
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0
Wind and solar Wind Solar Natural Gas Oil Fracking
ecoAmerica (2016) and Pew (2016)
*Note no data exists from ecoAmerica on wind, solar, and fracking separately
88
8383
89
61
42 42 42
45
PewecoAmerica

Americans increasingly see the priority of clean energy for America’s energy supply:
Pew (2011-2017)
% of Americans that priortize...
70%
60%
50%
40%
30%
20%
10%
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2017
63%
47%
58%
60%
65%
29%
39%
34%
30%
27%
Wind, solar, and other
alternative energy sources
Production of oil, coal, and
natural gas

Americans think energy independence is of upmost importance:
Quinnipiac University (2017)
60%
Very important
32%Somewhat important
5%Not so important
2%Not important at all

More Americans now oppose oil exploration on federal lands:
Gallup (2012-2017)
OpposeFavor
% of Americans that favor vs. oppose oil exploration on federal lands
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
201720142012
65
34
58
41
46
53

Over half of Americans oppose fracking and are split on whether we should use coal:
% of Americans who encourage vs. discourage coal and fracking
Coal
Fracking
Gallup (2017)
36%
Encourage
Encourage
56%
Discourage
53%
Discourage
12%
Don’t know
8%
Don’t know
35%

45%
40%
35%
30%
2015 2016 2017
Gallup (2015-2017)
% of Americans that support fracking
Support for fracking continues to decline:
40%
36%
35%

However, Americans are divided on advancing major oil pipelines:
Rasmussen Gallup Pew Quinnipiac University
Gallup (2017), Quinnipiac University (2017), Rasmussen (2017), Pew (2017)
0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%
SupportOppose
43
39
48
50
% of Americans that oppose vs. support the Keystone XL and Dakota Access pipelines in 2017
60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
51
36
42
40

% of Americans that prioritze environment vs. those that prioritize energy production
Gallup (2001-2017)
Americans are increasingly putting the environment before energy production:
52%
58% 59%
41%
36% 34% 34%
Prioritize environment
Prioritize energy production
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
2008
2009
2010
2011
2012
2013
2014
2015
2016
2017
44%
48% 50%
45%

Solutions: Americans are quickly turning solutions that
beneﬁt our environment and economy

What Americans say our priority should be in addressing our energy supply:
% of Americans who agree how we should be solving America’s energy supply
Gallup (2011-2017), Pew (2011-2014,2017)
*Note none of the pollings have 2015 data
Emphasize alternative
energy (Gallup)
Alternative sources such
as wind, solar (Pew)
Expand production of oil,
coal, and natural gas (Pew)
Emphasize production
of oil, gas and coal
(Gallup)
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
0
2011 2012 2013 2014 2016 2017
26%
34%
31%
32%
21% 23%
29%
39%
30%
34%
27%
63%
47%
58%
65% 65%
66%
59% 59%
64%
72%
71%

Americans increasingly favor charging large companies fees for their pollution:
ecoAmerica (2015-2016)
% of Americans that favor vs. oppose
0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80% 90% 100%100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10%
2015 2016
55
77
6
16
75
8
18
Total Favor Strongly Favor Total Oppose Strongly Oppose
50

Americans support taxing carbon, especially when the tax money goes towards
developing more clean energy:
ecoAmerica (2017), University of Michigan (2017)
*Note no data exists for "Not speciﬁed" from ecoAmerica
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Income tax rebateReduce federal debtNot speciﬁed Fund research and
development of renewables
ecoAmerica
University of Michigan
50
42
24
62
11
66 66
If there were a fee or tax on climate change pollution, how should the U.S. use the money?

Support especially grows amongst Republicans when researchers specified where the tax
money would go:
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Revenue to fund
research and
development
of renewables
Not specified
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Revenue to fund
research and
development
of renewables
Not specified
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Support
Oppose
Revenue to fund
research and
development
of renewables
Not specified
University of Michigan (2017)
RepublicansIndependentsDemocrats
66
26
77
19
47
40
70
26
30
63
45
49

Support also builds when options such as improving education and health services
is provided:
0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Fund development of new
clean energy sources
Reduce our federal debt
Rebate the money equally
to all citizens
Reduce the corporate
income tax
Improve education and
health services
We should not
tax carbon 13
33
5
11
24
66
ecoAmerica (2017)
If there were a fee or tax on climate change pollution, how should the U.S. use the money?

Americans believe we can act on climate solutions and grow our economy:
*Quinnipiac University (2017),**Saint Leo University (2017),***ecoAmerica(2017), ****Ipsos/Reuters(2017)
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Reducing global
warming will hurt
jobs and the
economy ****
Removing
environmental
proections will hurt
the economy***
Clean energy will
create new jobs
and growth****
Clean energy
creates more jobs
than fossil fuels***
Environmental
protections are
absolutely critical,
no matter what**
Environmental
protection create
new economic
opportunities**
The U.S. can combat
climate change and
protect jobs at the
same time*
68
32
37
40
70
31
14
% of Americans that agree...

Behaviors: How Americans are acting on solutions

A majority of Americans are loyal to and trust companies that support social
and environmental issues:
Cone Communications (2017)
% of Americans that say when a company supports social or environmental issues they...
Have a more positive image
of the company
Would be more likely to trust
the company
Would be more loyal to
the company
93%
90%
91%
92%
87%
88%
87%87%
95%
93%
92%
91%
90%
89%
88%
87%
86%
85%
84%
2013 2015 2017
90%

Where do Americans stand on taking action themselves?
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
Bought or sold stocks
or mutual funds based
on the environmental
record of companies
Contacted a business
to complain about its
products or policies that
harm the environment
Voluntarily recycledBought some product
speciﬁcally because it
was better for
the environment
Contacted a public
official about an
environmental issue
Been active in
an environmental
group or organization
2000
2017
15
18
73
90
13
9
21 20
66
89
11
9
Personal actions on climate haven't shifted much over the past decade
Gallup (2000, 2017)

Activism: Reﬂecting on the 2017 science marches,
protests, and demonstrations

Americans are divided on the effectiveness the April 2017 science marches:
Don’t know
Oppose goals of marches
Support goals of marches
Don’t know
Marches will make no difference
for public support for science
Marches about science will help
public support for science
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120%
Republicans/
Lean Rep
Pew (2017)
Pew (2017)
National 48 26 26
25 47 29
Democrats/
Lean Dem 68 14 18
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Democrats/
Lean Dem
Republicans/
Lean Rep
National 44 44 7
22 60 13
61 32 3
% of Americans who support vs. oppose the marches
% of Americans who think the marches help vs. make no difference

% of U.S. adults who say protests, marches and demonstrations about science held in April 2017 will be effective at...
About half of Americans say the climate marches will increase and encourage efforts
for science and policy collaboration:
Encouraging scientists to be more active in civic and public affairs
Pew (2017)
Increasing efforts to address global climate change
Raising support for government funding of science
Encouraging policymakers to rely more on advice of scientiﬁc experts
59%
49%
48%
49%

Nearly half of Americans believe participation in the climate marches stems from
opposition to Trump:
17%
Not a reason
22%
A minor reason
48%A major reason
Pew (2017)
% of Americans that think Trump's handling of science issues is a
major vs. minor reason for participation in the 2017 climate marches

Politics: Climate wedges a political divide

Large disparities exist among political affiliation when it comes to climate change:
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
45
69
76
47
40
18
80
43
45
94
62
66
ecoAmerica
Quinnipiac
University
Gallup
Gallup (2017), ecoAmerica (2017), Quinnipiac University (2017)
% of Americans concerned about climate change
National
Republicans
Independents
Democrats

Americans are concerned about climate change:
2016
% of Americans concerned a great deal about climate change
Gallup
ecoAmericaRepublicans
Independents
Democrats
National
ecoAmerica (2016), Gallup (2016)
38
37
49
57
36
34
23
18
0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70%

In the past year concern has jumped across the political spectrum, with the
exception of Republicans:
2017
Republicans
Independents
Democrats
National
ecoAmerica (2017), Gallup (2017)
% of Americans concerned a great deal about climate change
41
45
62
66
43
45
16
18
Gallup
ecoAmerica
0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

President Trump and Government: The role of climate
policy for America's future

More Americans say we need regulation to combat climate change:
% of Americans that say Trump should remove regulations that combat climate change vs. those who disagree
9%Don’t know
66%Should not
25%Should

Diving into speciﬁcs we see Americans disagree with Trump’s anti-climate agenda,
especially when it comes to clean energy:
% of Americans that agree vs. disagree with President Trump that America should...
ecoAmerica (2017)
0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Reduce the authority of the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) to regulate
climate change pollution
29
63
Remove federal funding for
clean energy projects 71
19
Open public lands to coal mining
65
25
Remove restrictions on offshore
oil and gas drilling 59
31
Cut the budget for the Environmental
Protection Agency (EPA) by 30% 63
30
Eliminate the fuel economy mandate requiring
cars get a minimum of 54.5 miles per gallon 56
31
% Total disagree
% Total agree

On the issue of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA):
% of Americans that favor vs. oppose cutting the EPA’s budget
Rasmussen
Rasmussen (2017)
ecoAmerica
ecoAmerica (2017)
44%Favor
30%Favor
46%Oppose
10%Don’t know
63%Oppose
4%Don’t know

Across the political spectrum Americans strongly disagree with President Trump
that America should remove restrictions on offshore oil and gas drilling:
0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%
Strongly Disagree Strongly Disagree
Independents
Democrats
Republicans
ecoAmerica (2017)
% of Americans that strongly disagree vs. strongly agree
13
44
70
34
8
4
20% 10%

Republicans are also likely to agree with Trump’s executive orders at rates double or
more than Democrats or Independents:
% Total agree, ﬁndings by political party
Remove
restrictions on
offshore oil and
gas drilling
Republican
Independent
Democrat
58% 61% 61% 60%
28% 27% 26%
13% 7%
30%
13%
54%
20%
9%
44%
14%
7% 8%
Eliminate the fuel
economy mandate
requiring cars get
a minimum of 54.5
miles per gallon
Cut the budget for
the EPA by 30%
Open public lands
to coal mining
Remove federal
funding for clean
energy projects
Reduce the
authority of the
EPA to regulate
climate change
pollution
ecoAmerica (2017)

Yet, Trump voters favor most climate solutions:
% of Americans that favor vs. oppose the following...
Yale (2017)
Oppose/Disagree Favor/Agree
0 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120%
Generating wind and solar on
public land
23 77
More drilling and mining of fossil
fuels on public land
7227
Funding more research of
clean energy 7128
Providing tax rebates to people
who purchase energy efficient
vehicles and solar panels
6929
The U.S. should use more renewable
energy in the future such as solar,
wind, and geothermal
7333
Transitioning from fossil fuels to clean
energy impact on the economy
2949
60% 40% 20%

And in recent turn of events, Trump has acted out against what his voters and
Americans want:
% of Americans that agree vs. disagree with Trump’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement
ecoAmerica (2017)
I strongly agree with it (10%) I disagree with it (9%)I agree with it (9%) I strongly disagree with it (25%) I don’t know (47%)

Nearly half of Trump voters disagree with his withdrawl from the Paris Agreement:
47%
Should
participate
25%
Don’t know
28%Should not
participate
Yale (2016)
% of Trump voters that support vs. oppose the withdrawl from the Paris agreement

A majority of Americans say we should remain in the agreement:
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Don't knowShould not participate /
Approve of withdrawl
Should participate /
Disapprove of withdrawl
Ipsos/Reuters
Quinnipiac University
Washington Post/ABC
Rasmussen
Morning Consult/POLITICO
Yale
Yale (2016), Rasmussen (2017), Morning Consult/POLITICO (2017), WashingtonPost/ABC (2017) Ipsos/Reuters (2017), Quinnipiac University (2017)
*Note there is no 2017 data from Rasmussen or Quinnipiac University
69
60
57
59
47
62
13
30
24
28
39
32
17
19
13
15

Following the announcement to pull out of the agreement, Americans still say we
should lead on climate action, but are divided on dedicating funds toward the cause:
10%
No
17%
Unsure
Do you approve of the United States working
with other countries to limit global warming?
Should the United States lead the ﬁght against
climate change?
73%
Yes
14%
Unsure
22%Disagree
68%
Agree
Ipsos/Reuters (2017)

Americans who agree the U.S. should:
Support the creation of a $100 billion internationally managed fund to help developing countries adapt to climate change
Follow through on a $3 billion pledge to help developing countries adapt to climate change
23%
Strongly
agree
20%
Strongly
agree
47%Total agree
39%Total disagree
47%
Total agree
39%Total disagree

Americans don’t agree on the ramiﬁcations of pulling out of the agreement:
% of Americans that say the following is likely due to the U.S. withdrawing from the Paris Climate Agreement
0
20%
40%
60%
80%
100%
U.S. will not be seen as a
leader on global issues
U.S. will be able to
negotiate a better
climate agreement
with other countries
U.S. economy will be
stronger
U.S. relations with other
countries will suffer
Global temperatures will
rise faster
National
Democrats
Republicans
Independents
63
78
50
70
37
21
59
35
41
21
71
31
64
83
45
71
50
74
25
52

Bringing It Home: Americans turn to their communities
to take up the mantle on climate solutions

% of Americans that say we could address climate change effectively, but our government is broken and can’t agree on how to do it
Americans know we can’t wait for Washington to act:
0 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%30% 20% 10%
Total disagree
Strongly disagree
Total agree
Strongly agree
19
7
74
42
ecoAmerica (2016)

Who Americans believe will act on climate solutions:
% of Americans that think that the following is most likely to advance climate solutions
2016
2015
ecoAmerica (2016)
State government (12%) Local government (12%)Private sector (45%) Federal government (31%)
ecoAmerica (2015)
State government (15%) Local government (11%)Private sector (43%) Federal government (31%)

Who Americans think is best able to protect the environment:
0 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30%
Environmental
activists
The business
community
States
Congress
The President
Independents
Republicans
Democrats
National
% of Americans total agree
13
14
23
18
14
13
16
20
20
14
19
14
12
27
26
7
11
19
17
18

Americans want to bring solutions home to their communities and take on action:
0
5%
10%
15%
20%
25%
30%
35%
40%
All the aboveTalking to the public
about climate change
Educating others
about climate change
Purchasing renewable
energy like wind and solar
Conserving energy
ecoAmerica (2016) My city or town is... I wish my city or town were...
32
30
19
27
16
24
11
20
7
39
What Americans say their city or town is doing vs. what they wish they were doing

Americans believe they personally, and we collectively,
can and need to take action on climate:
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
70%
80%
Need to take action now
to reduce the pollution that is
causing climate change
Need to take action now
to reduce the pollution that is
Can help reduce the
pollution that is
Can help reduce the
pollution that is
0
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
ecoAmerica (2016)
Total Agree Strongly Agree
We...I...
72 73
78 80
36
41
52
59

Americans are very hopeful for the future:
% of Americans that agree vs. disagree that we can reduce the pollution that is causing climate change
17%Disagree
78%Agree
ecoAmerica (2016)

Thank you!
ecoAmerica builds a critical mass of institutional leadership,
public support and political will for definitive climate solutions in the United States.
Learn more at ecoAmerica.org

American Climate Perspectives 2017 Annual Summary

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