q114/random_k2/random_1.md

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FOR RELEASE November 25, 2019

U.S. Public Views on
Climate and Energy

Democrats mostly agree the federal government should do more
on climate, while Republicans differ by ideology, age and gender

BY Cary Funk and Meg Hefferon

FOR MEDIA OR OTHER INQUIRIES:

Cary Funk, Director, Science and society research
Shawnee Cohn, Communications Manager

202.419.4372

www.pewresearch.org

RECOMMENDED CITATION

Pew Research Center, November,2019 “U.S.
Public Views on Climate and Energy”

1

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

About Pew Research Center

Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes
and trends shaping America and the world. It does not take policy positions. The Center conducts
public opinion polling, demographic research, content analysis and other data-driven social
science research. It studies U.S. politics and policy; journalism and media; internet, science and
technology; religion and public life; Hispanic trends; global attitudes and trends; and U.S. social
and demographic trends. All of the Center’s reports are available at www.pewresearch.org. Pew
Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder.

© Pew Research Center 2019

www.pewresearch.org

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PEW RESEARCH CENTER

U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy

Democrats mostly agree the federal government should do more on
climate, while Republicans differ by ideology, age and gender

Majorities of Americans say
the federal government is
doing too little for key aspects
of the environment, from
protecting water or air quality
to reducing the effects of
climate change. And most
believe the United States
should focus on developing
alternative sources of energy
over expansion of fossil fuel
sources, according to a new
Pew Research Center survey.

A majority of U.S. adults say
they are taking at least some
specific action in their daily
lives to protect the
environment, though
Democrats and Republicans
remain at ideological odds
over the causes of climate
change and the effects of
policies to address it,
according to the survey of
3,627 U.S. adults conducted
Oct. 1 to Oct. 13, 2019, using
the Center’s American Trends
Panel.

Majorities of Americans say the federal government is
not doing enough to protect the climate, environment
% of U.S. adults who think the federal government is doing too little to …

% of U.S. adults who think the federal government is doing too little to
reduce the effects of climate change

Note: Respondents who said the federal government is doing about the right amount or
doing too much and those did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

These findings come amid the Trump administration’s intention to officially withdraw from the
2016 Paris climate accord and ongoing efforts to roll back domestic environmental protection
regulations, including relaxing limits on methane and carbon emissions.

www.pewresearch.org

3

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

About two-thirds of U.S. adults (67%) say the federal government is doing too little to reduce the
effects of climate change, and similar shares say the same about government efforts to protect air
(67%) and water quality (68%) – findings that are consistent with results from a 2018 Center
survey.

While there is strong consensus among Democrats (90%, including independents who lean to the
Democratic Party) on the need for more government efforts to reduce the effects of climate
change, Republican views are divided along ideological, generational and gender lines. A majority
of moderate or liberal Republicans (65%, including GOP-leaning independents) say the federal
government is doing too little to reduce the effects of climate change. In contrast, only about one-
quarter of conservative Republicans (24%) say the same, while about half (48%) think the
government is doing about the right amount and another 26% say it is doing too much.

There are also divides by age.
Among younger Republicans –
adults in the Millennial
generation and Generation Z,
ages 18 to 38 in 2019 – 52%
think the government is doing
too little on climate. By
comparison, 41% among
Generation X and 31% of Baby
Boomer and older Americans
say this. Republican women
(46%) also are more inclined
than GOP men (34%) to think
the government’s efforts on
climate are insufficient.

Views about government
efforts to protect the
environment in areas such as
water or air quality show
similar differences among
Republicans by ideology,
generation and gender.

Most in U.S. prioritize renewables over fossil fuels, but
there are differences among Republicans
% of U.S. adults who say the more important priority for U.S. energy supply
should be …

Note: Full response options were “Developing alternative sources, such as wind, solar and
hydrogen technology” and “Expanding exploration and production of oil, coal and natural
gas.” Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

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PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Overall, about three-quarters of Americans (77%) agree that the more important energy priority
should be developing alternative energy sources such as wind and solar power and hydrogen
technology rather than increasing U.S. production of fossil fuels.

The vast majority of Democrats (90%) believe the U.S. should prioritize alternative energy
development over expanded oil, coal and natural gas exploration and production. While generally
supportive of prioritizing alternative energy sources, Republicans differ by ideology and
generation, and more modestly by gender, in their views of U.S. energy supply priorities.

Most moderate or liberal Republicans (82%) say the U.S. should prioritize alternative energy
sources. But conservative Republicans, who represent the party majority, are evenly divided over
whether to prioritize alternative energy (49%) or expand fossil fuel production (49%). (Roughly
two-thirds of Republicans and Republican leaners – 65% – describe themselves as conservative,
while 34% are moderate or liberal, according to an average across four Center surveys conducted
this year.)

In addition, a strong majority of younger Republicans (78% of Millennial and Gen Z adults, i.e.,
those ages 18 to 38) say the U.S. should prioritize alternative energies, compared with 61% of Gen
X Republicans and about half of Baby Boomer and older Republicans (53%). GOP women tend to
prioritize alternative energy development over expanding fossil fuels (66% to 32%). A smaller
share of Republican men prioritize alternative energy development (58%) over fossil fuel
expansion (42%).

Compared with 2017, support for prioritizing alternative energy development appears to be up
among both Democrats and Republicans. However, in the 2017 survey, which was conducted by
telephone, 5% of the public volunteered that both alternative energy and fossil fuels should be
equal priorities. These methodological differences could account for the differences in findings
over time. (See the Appendix for details. HYPERLINK).

www.pewresearch.org

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PEW RESEARCH CENTER

How Americans view the impact of climate change depends on where they
live

Most Americans today (62%)
say that climate change is
affecting their local community
either a great deal or some.
That figure remains fairly
steady from last year, when
59% reported at least some
local effects of climate change.

The vast majority of this group
says long periods of unusually
hot weather (79% of those
asked or 49% of all U.S. adults)
represent a major local impact
of climate change. They also
say major effects include
severe weather such as floods
and intense storms (70%),
harm to animal wildlife and
their habitats (69%), damage
to forests and plant life (67%)
or droughts and water
shortages (64%). More
frequent wildfires and rising
sea levels that erode beaches
and shorelines also are cited by
equal percentages (56% of
those asked) as major impacts
to their local communities.

A majority of U.S. adults say climate change is
affecting their local community at least some
% of U.S. adults who say global climate change is affecting their local
community …

Note: Top figure based on all adults. Bottom figure based on those who say that climate
change is affecting their local community a great deal or some.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

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PEW RESEARCH CENTER

The degree to which Americans report
experiencing effects of climate change in their
local community varies by geographic region.
Americans in Pacific states (which include
California, Washington, Oregon, Hawaii and
Alaska) are most likely to see at least some local
impacts of climate change (72%). By
comparison, 54% of those living in Mountain
states (Arizona, Colorado, Nevada, Utah, New
Mexico, Idaho, Montana and Wyoming) say
climate change is affecting their local area at
least some.

Large shares of Americans nationwide who
report at least some local impact of climate
change cite long periods of unusually hot
weather as occurring where they live. Other
major effects of climate change, however, tend
to vary by region.

Most in Pacific states see climate
change as affecting their local area
% of U.S. adults who say climate change is affecting their
local community …

Census region

A great
deal
28

Pacific

Some
44

West

South

Mountain

17

38

South Atlantic

East and West
South Central

Northeast

24

25

25

39

34

36

Midwest

15

44

NET
72

54

63

59

61

59

Note: Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give
an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Americans living in Western states are particularly likely to report increased
wildfire frequency, droughts as major local effects of climate change
Among U.S. adults in each region who say climate change is affecting their local community at least some, % who say
each of the following is a major way climate change is affecting their local community

CENSUS REGION

Long periods of
unusually hot weather

More frequent
wildfires

Droughts or
water shortages

Rising sea levels
that erode beaches

West

South

Pacific

Mountain

South Atlantic
East and West
South Central

Northeast

Midwest

78

85

85

86

76

66

83

78

49

56

46

40

76

85

67

69

50

48

62

38

64

53

64

46

Note: Based on those who say that climate change is affecting their local community a great deal or some. Respondents who gave other
responses or who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

7

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Those living in Western states stand out as particularly likely to report increasing frequency of
wildfires or droughts/water shortages as local effects of climate change. For example, those who
see climate effects locally in Pacific and Mountain states say more frequent wildfires are a major
effect of climate change in their area (83% and 78%, respectively), compared with 52% of those in
the South, 46% in the Northeast and 40% in the Midwest who say the same.

Proximity to coastline also makes a difference, the survey shows. Respondents living within 25
miles of a coastline anywhere in the U.S. are modestly more inclined to say that climate change is
having at least some effect in their community; 67% of this group says this, compared with 60% of
those living between 25 and 300 miles inland and 59% of those living more than 300 miles inland.

About seven-in-ten (72%) of those who live within 25 miles of a coastline nationwide – and who
also report at least some local climate change effects – cite rising sea levels as a major impact. That
experience is reported by fewer than half (45%) of those who live at least 300 miles inland and see
at least some local effects of
climate change.

More than eight-in-ten liberal Democrats say human
activity contributes a great deal to climate change
% of U.S. adults who say each of the following contributes to global climate
change …

A great deal

Some

Human activity

Not too much/not at all
Natural patterns in Earth's
environment

U.S. adults

49

30

20

35

44

20

Conservative
Republican
Mod/lib
Republican
Mod/cons
Democrat
Liberal
Democrat

14

39

45

59

28

11

35

42

21

35

53

10

64

27

8

26

48

84

12

3

15

51

24

33

Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who “lean” toward the
parties. Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give an answer not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

A partisan lens also plays a role
in these perceptions.
Democrats and Democratic
leaners (82%) are more likely
than Republicans (38%,
including leaners) to report at
least some effects of climate
change on their local
communities.1

Political groups remain
divided over climate change
causes and policies

Overall, about half of
Americans (49%) say human
activity contributes a great deal
to climate change, and another
30% say human actions have

1 The share of Democrats living in Pacific states is higher than the share of Democrats in Mountain states. However, in a logistic regression
model controlling for political party, people in the Pacific region are significantly more likely than those in the Mountain region to say they are
experiencing at least some local effects of climate change.

www.pewresearch.org

8

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

some role in climate change. Two-in-ten (20%) believe human activity plays not too much or no
role at all in climate change.

Survey respondents also were asked to rate the degree to which they believe natural patterns (such
as regular warming and cooling cycles) contribute to climate change.

Roughly a third of adults (35%) say natural patterns in the Earth’s environment contribute a great
deal to climate change, and another 44% say natural patterns contribute to some extent.

Of the two-in-ten who think human activity has little or no role in climate change, most say that
natural patterns contribute to climate change either a great deal or some. Just 4% of Americans
say that neither human activity nor natural patterns contribute to global climate change at least
some.

The findings underscore the degree to which Americans remain divided along party and
ideological lines when it comes to their beliefs about
the causes of climate change.

How surveys ask about climate
change matters
The new Pew Research Center survey
takes a different approach to measuring
people’s beliefs about the causes of
global climate change and thus is not
directly comparable to past Center
surveys. The new questions allow
respondents to rate how much human
activity and natural patterns in the
Earth’s climate cycles contribute to
climate change. Past surveys have
looked at beliefs about the cause of
climate change in three broad
categories: those who say climate
change is mostly due to human activity,
those who say it is mostly due to natural
patterns in the Earth’s atmosphere and
those saying there is no solid evidence
that climate change is occurring,
reflecting a prominent position in public
discourse more than a decade ago.

A strong majority of liberal Democrats (84%) say
human activity contributes a great deal to climate
change, with near consensus among them that human
activity contributes at least some amount to climate
change (96%). In contrast, about half of conservative
Republicans (53%) say human activity contributes a
great deal (14%) or some (39%) to climate change.
Another 45% of this group says humans play not too
much or no role in climate change.

Republicans and Democrats in the ideological middle
within their respective parties (that is,
moderate/liberal Republicans and
moderate/conservative Democrats) fall somewhere in
between in terms of how they see human activity
influencing climate change. For instance, 35% of
moderate or liberal Republicans say human activity
has a great deal of impact on climate change, while
roughly two-thirds of moderate or conservative
Democrats (64%) see it as a major contributor.

www.pewresearch.org

9

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Partisan divisions remain when it comes to how
Americans perceive the effects of climate
change policies on the environment and the
economy. (These core differences also were
evident in a 2018 Center survey.)

An overwhelming majority of liberal Democrats
(81%) say climate policies result in net benefits
for the environment, while just 7% say such
policies do more harm than good and 11% think
they have no effect on the environment. Also,
most liberal Democrats (90%) think climate
policies either help or have no effect on the
economy.

Conservative Republicans stand out as
particularly skeptical about the benefits of
climate policies for the environment. A
minority of this group (25%) says such policies
do more good than harm for the environment,
and a majority (62%) says these policies hurt
the economy.

Partisans at odds over effects of climate
policies on environment, economy
% of U.S. adults who say policies aimed at reducing the
effects of global climate change generally …

Do more good than harm for environment
Make no difference for environment
Do more harm than good for environment

U.S. adults

54

29

15

Conservative Rep

25

47

26

Mod/lib Rep

Mod/cons Dem

Liberal Dem

49

35

15

64

23

11

81

11

7

% of U.S. adults who say policies aimed at reducing the
effects of global climate change generally …

Help U.S. economy
Make no difference to U.S. economy
Hurt U.S. economy

U.S. adults

33

35

30

Conservative Rep

10

26

62

Mod/lib Rep

Mod/cons Dem

Liberal Dem

24

39

39

35

42

16

57

34

9

Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others
who “lean” toward the parties. Respondents who did not give an
answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

A greater percentage of
Millennial and Gen Z
Republicans (40%) than those
who are Baby Boomers and older
(29%) view climate policies as
doing more good than harm for
the environment, but sizable
shares in both generations
believe such policies hurt the
economy.

Republican men (23%),
meanwhile, are about as likely as
GOP women (20%) to think that
climate policies bring net harm
to the environment but are
significantly more likely than
GOP women (63% vs. 39%) to
say that such policies hurt the
economy.

10

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Republicans, young and old, tend to be skeptical
about effects of climate policy on the economy
% of U.S. adults who say policies to reduce the effects of climate change
generally do the following

Effect on the environment
Make no
difference

More good
than harm

More harm
than good  Help

Effect on U.S. economy
Make no
difference  Hurt

U.S. adults

Dem/lean Dem

Rep/lean Rep
Among Republicans/
lean Rep

    Boomer & older

    Gen X
    Millennial &
younger

    Men

    Women

54

71

34

29

36

40

31

37

29

17

43

47

39

39

45

41

15

10

22

22

24

19

23

20

33

47

15

12

14

21

13

18

35

38

31

31

29

32

23

40

30

13

52

54

55

46

63

39

Note: Respondents who did not give an answer to each question are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

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PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Two-thirds of Americans say using fewer single-use plastics makes a big
difference for the environment

At a time when individuals are increasingly
encouraged to help the environment through
changes in everyday behaviors, most Americans
say they are taking action, whether it’s reducing
food waste or using fewer disposable plastics.

The survey asked respondents whether they
engage in any of five specific actions in their
everyday life for environmental reasons. Survey
respondents also rated the efficacy of each of
these five actions when it comes to helping the
environment. (Half of the respondents, selected
at random, were asked about their potential
actions and half were asked about the efficacy
of each action.)

Majorities say they reduce food waste,
limit use of plastics to help environment
% of U.S. adults who say they do each of the following to
help protect the environment

Reduce their
food waste
Use fewer single-
use plastics
Reduce amount
of water they use

Drive less or
carpool

Eat less meat

80

72

68

51

41

Note: Respondents who said they do not do this or who did not give
an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Eight-in-ten Americans (80%) report that they
reduce their food waste for environmental reasons. Large shares of the public (72%) say they use
fewer plastics that cannot be reused such as plastic bags, straws, cups or reduce their water
consumption (68%) to help the environment.

About half (51%) of Americans say they are driving less or using carpools, while about four-in-ten
(41%) say they are eating less meat for
environmental reasons.

On average, people report doing 3.1 of these
actions in their everyday lives. About a fifth of
Americans (19%) report doing all five activities.

When assessing their overall behavior, one-
quarter of U.S. adults (25%) say they make an
effort to live in ways that help protect the
environment “all the time,” up modestly from
20% in 2016. Another 63% report they live in

One-in-four Americans say they always
live in ways that protect environment
% of U.S. adults who say they make an effort to live in
ways that protect the environment …

All the time Some of the time Not too often/not at all

25

63

11

Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

12

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

environmentally conscious ways some of the time. Just 11% say they do not try at all to live in
environmentally conscious ways or do so not too often.

Baby Boomer and older Americans are more likely than Millennial and Gen Z adults to report that
they try to live in environmentally conscious ways all the time (32% vs. 18%, respectively).

When Americans think about the impact of five types of individual actions, two-thirds (67%) say
that using fewer single-use plastics makes a big difference in helping protect the environment.
About half of Americans say the same about reducing use of personal vehicles (52%), food waste
(52%) or water use (50%). About a quarter of U.S. adults (24%) say that eating less meat makes a
big difference for the environment, while 38% say this makes a small difference and another 38%
think this makes almost no difference for the environment.

Public opinion about how they
can protect the environment
sometimes aligns with people’s
actions, but not always.

For instance, about the same
percentage of Americans who
say using fewer single-use
plastics makes a big difference
for the environment (67%)
report using fewer plastics in
their daily lives (72%).

But in another example, while
four-in-ten Americans (41%)
say they eat less meat for
environmental reasons, only a
quarter (24%) believe doing so
makes a big difference to the
environment.

The quarter of Americans who
say they always try to live in
environmentally conscious

Majorities in U.S. say they cut back on single-use
plastics, believe this makes a big difference for the
environment
% of U.S. adults who say the following about actions people can do in
everyday life to help protect the environment

It makes a big difference when people do this in everyday life
They, personally, do this in order to protect the environment

Use fewer single-
use plastics

Drive less or
carpool

Reduce their
food waste

Reduce amount
of water they use

Eat less meat

67

72

80

68

52
51

52

50

24

41

24% say eating less meat
makes a big difference in
protecting the environment,
41% say they eat less meat
to protect the environment

Note: Half of respondents, selected at random, were asked to rate how much of a
difference it makes when people do each of these things and half were asked whether or
not they do each in order to protect the environment. Respondents who gave other
responses or who did not give an answer to each question are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

13

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

ways are particularly likely to take these five specific actions to protect the environment.

Most people in this group say they reduce their
food waste (94%), use of disposable plastics
(87%) or water consumption (81%) in efforts to
help the environment. A smaller majority
(68%) say they drive less or are eating less meat
(57%) to benefit the environment.

Altogether, those who see themselves as
environmentally conscious perform an average
of 3.9 of these actions in their everyday lives,
and more than one-third (37%) take all five
actions.

This stands in contrast to the small percentage
of Americans (11%) who describe themselves as
doing either nothing or not too much to live in
ways that protect the environment. Among this
group, about half (51%) say they reduce their
food waste. Fewer than half are using fewer
disposable plastics (33%) or reducing their
water use (35%), while even fewer are driving
less (15%) or eating less meat (18%) for
environmental reasons. On average, this group
does 1.5 actions to help the environment and
just 3% perform all five.

Americans who consider themselves
environmentally conscious more likely
to take action to protect environment
% of U.S. adults who say they do each of the following in
their everyday life to help protect the environment

Among those who say they live in
ways to protect the environment ...
All the
time

Not too
much/at all

Some of
the time

51

94

33

35

87

81

68

Reduce their
food waste

Use fewer single-
use plastics

Reduce amount
of water they use

Drive less or
carpool

15

Eat less meat

18

57

0

20

40

60

80

100

Note: Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give
an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

14

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Gender and political affiliations are associated to some extent with whether Americans are
changing their daily behaviors for the sake of the environment.

Republican men stand out as
less likely to say they are
changing their behaviors in any
of the five ways included in the
survey, from reducing food
waste to eating less meat.

On the other hand, Republican
and Democratic women as well
as Democratic men are about
equally likely to make these
efforts to protect the
environment, overall.

Republican men are less inclined to take each of five
specific actions to protect the environment
% of U.S. adults who say they do each of the following in their everyday life
to help protect the environment

Among Republican/
lean Rep ...

Men

Women

Among Democrat/
lean Dem ...

Men

Women

Reduce their food waste

68

84

80

87

Use fewer single-use
plastics

Reduce amount of
water they use

54

54

74

71

75

81

72

72

Drive less or carpool

35

49

57

58

42

16

Eat less meat

For example, 54% of
Republican men report using
fewer single-use plastics for
environmental reasons,
compared with roughly three-
quarters or more of Republican
women (74%), Democratic men
(75%) and Democratic women
(81%). (These figures include Republican- and Democratic-leaning independents.)

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

100

43

0

0

Note: Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

57

100

A relatively small percentage of Republican men (16%) say they eat less meat in an effort to help
the environment, compared with about two and half times as many Republican women (42%). A
more modest gender gap exists among Democrats, with closer percentages of men (43%) and
women (57%) saying they eat less meat for environmental reasons.

www.pewresearch.org

15

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Most Americans favor expanding renewable energy sources, but divides
remain over expanding offshore drilling, nuclear power

Most Americans favor expanding solar power (92%) or wind power (85%), including strong
majorities of both Republicans and Democrats. The public, however, is evenly divided over
whether to expand nuclear power (49% on each side). Fewer than half of Americans support more
offshore oil and gas drilling (42%), hydraulic fracturing for oil and natural gas, known as
“fracking” (38%) or coal mining (35%).

These findings are broadly in
line with previous Center
surveys, which found strong
majorities in favor of
increasing solar or wind power
and more mixed views about
expanding other energy
sources. Support for more
nuclear power plants has
inched up 6 percentage points
since 2016 (from 43% to 49%
today). Support for coal mining
has declined from 41% to 35%
in the same period.

Most Americans favor expanding solar or wind power;
half or fewer support expanding fossil fuels
% of U.S. adults who say they ___ expanding each energy source

Oppose

Favor

More solar panel farms

More wind turbine farms

8

14

92

85

More nuclear power plants

49

More offshore oil and gas drilling

56

More hydraulic fracturing

More coal mining

60

63

49

42

38

35

Note: Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Sizable majorities of both
Republicans and Democrats –
including those who lean to each party – favor more solar panel farms (86% and 96%,
respectively) or wind turbine farms (77% and 92%). More Republicans (59%) than Democrats
(41%) support expanding nuclear power plants; support for nuclear power is stronger among
conservative Republicans (63%) than among moderate or liberal Republicans (51%).

Long-standing political and ideological divides remain over support for expanding fossil fuel
energy sources, including offshore oil drilling, hydraulic fracturing and coal mining. Majorities of
Republicans favor expanding these sources, while most Democrats remain opposed. Though, there
are some differences within each party. Three-quarters of conservative Republicans (76%) favor
expanding offshore oil and gas drilling, as do about half of moderate or liberal Republicans (53%).
In contrast, about three-in-ten moderate or conservative Democrats (28%) and just 12% of liberal
Democrats support more offshore drilling.

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16

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Conservative Republicans also
stand out as more inclined to
support expansion of hydraulic
fracturing for oil and gas as
well as coal mining (66% for
each). By comparison, fewer
than half of moderate or liberal
Republicans favor expanding
these energy sources (42% and
40% for hydraulic fracturing
and coal mining, respectively).

Conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats at
odds over expanding fossil fuels
% of U.S. adults who say they favor expanding each energy source

Conservative Republican
Mod/lib Republican

Liberal Democrat
Mod/cons Democrat

More solar panel farms

More wind turbine farms

More nuclear power plants

More offshore drilling

81

71

87

93

98

95
94

91

43

51

63

39

12

28

53

76

9

29

23

42

40

13

66

More coal mining

More hydraulic fracturing

Democrats are largely opposed
to expanding either source. For
example, a small fraction of
liberal Democrats (9%) and
about a quarter (23%) of
moderate or conservative
Democrats favor more coal
mining. Support for offshore
drilling and for hydraulic
fracturing has declined among
Democrats in recent years. (Support for coal mining has gone down among both parties since
2016. See the Appendix for details.) [ADD HYPERLINK]

Note: Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who “lean” toward the
parties. Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give an answer not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

100

66

20

40

60

80

0

While Democratic views about these energy sources tend to be fairly consistent across
generational and gender lines, Republican views are not. GOP Baby Boomer and older generations
are more supportive of expanding offshore drilling, coal mining and hydraulic fracturing than are
Millennial and Gen Z Republicans. In addition, Republican men are more likely to favor
expanding fossil fuel energy sources, especially hydraulic fracturing, than women who identify
with or lean toward the GOP. (See the Appendix for details.) [ADD HYPERLINK]

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PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Acknowledgments

This report is made possible by The Pew Charitable Trusts. This report is a collaborative effort
based on the input and analysis of the following individuals. Find related reports online at:
pewresearch.org/science.

Primary research team

Cary Funk, Director, Science and Society Research
Brian Kennedy, Senior Researcher
Courtney Johnson, Research Associate
Meg Hefferon, Research Analyst
Cary Lynne Thigpen, Research Assistant

Editorial and graphic design

Pamela Ferdinand, Freelance Editor
David Kent, Copy Editor
Margaret Porteus, Information Graphics Designer

Communications and web publishing

Shawnee Cohn, Communications Manager
Haley Nolan, Communications Associate
Travis Mitchell, Digital Producer

www.pewresearch.org

18

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Methodology

The American Trends Panel (ATP), created by Pew Research Center, is a nationally representative
panel of randomly selected U.S. adults. Panelists participate via self-administered web surveys.
Panelists who do not have internet access at home are provided with a tablet and wireless internet
connection. The panel is being managed by Ipsos.

American Trends Panel recruitment surveys

Data in this report are drawn from the panel wave conducted Oct. 1 to Oct. 13, 2019. A total of
3,627 panelists responded out of 3,954 who were sampled, for a response rate of 91.7%. This does
not include three panelists who were removed from the data due to extremely high rates of refusal
or straightlining. The
cumulative response rate
accounting for nonresponse to
the recruitment surveys and
attrition is 4.9%. The break-off
rate among panelists who
logged onto the survey and
completed at least one item is
0.9%. The margin of sampling
error for the full sample of
3,627 respondents is plus or
minus 2.1 percentage points.

Note: Approximately once per year, panelists who have not participated in multiple
consecutive waves or who did not complete an annual profiling survey are removed from the
panel. Panelists also become inactive if they ask to be removed from the panel.

Mode
Landline/
cell RDD
Landline/
cell RDD
Landline/
cell RDD

Active
panelists
remaining

Jan. 23 to March 16, 2014

April 25 to June 4, 2017

ABS/web
Total

Aug. 8 to Oct. 31, 2018

Aug. 27 to Oct. 4, 2015

6,320
10,588

9,396
29,114

8,778
18,720

Recruitment Dates

Invited

Joined

9,809

6,004

5,338

2,291

2,976

1,314

3,905

1,628

663

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

The sample consisted of all
existing panelists who had
completed the annual profile survey as of Sept. 9, 2019. Panelists who had not yet completed the
profile survey were ineligible. A subsample from the ATP was selected by grouping panelists into
six strata so demographic groups that are underrepresented in the panel had a higher probability
of selection than overrepresented groups:

  Stratum A consists of panelists that completed interviews for previous ATP Waves 17, 33, or

34. They were sampled at a rate of 100%.

  Stratum B consists of panelists who are non-internet users. They were sampled at a rate of

72%.

  Stratum C consists of panelists with a high school education or less. They were sampled at a

rate of 64.7%.

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19

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

  Stratum D consists of panelists that are Hispanic, unregistered to vote, or non-volunteers.

They were sampled at a rate of 26.6%.

  Stratum E consists of panelists that are black or 18-34 years old. They were sampled at a rate

of 12.8%.

  Stratum F consists of the remaining panelists. They were sampled at a rate of 9.6%.

The ATP was created in 2014, with the first cohort of panelists invited to join the panel at the end
of a large, national, landline and cellphone random-digit-dial survey that was conducted in both
English and Spanish. Two additional recruitments were conducted using the same method in 2015
and 2017, respectively. Across these three surveys, a total of 19,718 adults were invited to join the
ATP, of which 9,942 agreed to participate.

In August 2018, the ATP switched from telephone to address-
based recruitment. Invitations were sent to a random, address-
based sample (ABS) of households selected from the U.S. Postal
Service’s Delivery Sequence File. In each household, the adult
with the next birthday was asked to go online to complete a
survey, at the end of which they were invited to join the panel.
For a random half-sample of invitations, households without
internet access were instructed to return a postcard. These
households were contacted by telephone and sent a tablet if they
agreed to participate. A total of 9,396 were invited to join the
panel, and 8,778 agreed to join the panel and completed an
initial profile survey. Of the 18,720 individuals who have ever
joined the ATP, 10,588 remained active panelists and continued
to receive survey invitations at the time this survey was
conducted.

The U.S. Postal Service’s Delivery Sequence File has been
estimated to cover as much as 98% of the population, although
some studies suggest that the coverage could be in the low 90%
range.2

Weighting

Weighting dimensions
Variable

Benchmark
source

Gender

Age

Education

Race/Hispanic
origin
Hispanic nativity
Home internet
access
Region x
Metropolitan status

Volunteerism

2017 American
Community
Survey

2018 CPS March
Supplement

2017 CPS
Volunteering &
Civic Life
Supplement

Voter registration  2016 CPS Voting
and Registration
Supplement

Party affiliation

Average of the
three most recent
Pew Research
Center telephone
surveys.

Note: Estimates from the ACS are based on
non-institutionalized adults. Voter
registration is calculated using procedures
from Hur, Achen (2013) and rescaled to
include the total US adult population.

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

The ATP data were weighted in a multistep process that begins
with a base weight incorporating the respondents’ original survey selection probability and the fact

2 AAPOR Task Force on Address-based Sampling. 2016. “AAPOR Report: Address-based Sampling.”

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20

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

that in 2014 and 2017 some respondents were
subsampled for invitation to the panel. The next
step in the weighting uses an iterative technique
that aligns the sample to population benchmarks
on the dimensions listed in the accompanying
table.

Sampling errors and test of statistical-
significance take into account the effect of
weighting. Interviews are conducted in both
English and Spanish, but the American Trends
Panel’s Hispanic sample is predominantly U.S.
born and English speaking.

In addition to sampling error, one should bear in
mind that question wording and practical
difficulties in conducting surveys can introduce
error or bias into the findings of opinion polls.

The table shows the unweighted sample sizes
and the error attributable to sampling that
would be expected at the 95% level of confidence
for different groups in the survey.

© Pew Research Center, 2019

Margins of error

U.S. adults

Men
Women

Boomer and older
Generation X
Millennial and younger

Rep/Lean Rep
Dem/Lean Dem

Cons Republican
Mod/lib Republican
Mod/cons Democrat
Liberal Democrat

Rep/lean Rep by generation
Boomer and older
Generation X
Millennial and younger

Rep/lean Rep by gender
Men
Women

Region
Pacific
Mountain
South Atlantic
East and West South Central
Northeast
Midwest

Unweighted
Sample size
3,627

Margin of error
in percentage
points
+/- 2.1

1,663
1,962

1,799
854
970

1,502
2,023

981
503
1,000
1,006

851
324
323

776
726

535
321
749
602
604
814

+/- 3.2
+/- 2.8

+/- 2.9
+/- 4.2
+/- 4.0

+/- 3.1
+/- 2.9

+/- 3.8
+/- 5.5
+/- 4.0
+/- 4.2

+/- 4.1
+/- 6.5
+/- 6.8

+/- 4.5
+/- 4.4

+/- 5.6
+/- 7.1
+/- 4.7
+/- 5.1
+/- 5.1
+/- 4.3

Note: The margins of error are reported at the 95% level of
confidence and are calculated by taking into account the average
design effect for each subgroup. Republicans and Democrats
include independents and others who “lean” toward the parties.
Source: Survey conducted Oct 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

21

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Appendix: Detailed tables

www.pewresearch.org

22

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Conservative Republicans stand out from other
political groups on many climate and energy issues
% of U.S. adults who say the following

Conservative Republican Mod/lib Republican
Mod/cons Democrat

Liberal Democrat

U.S.
adults

Climate change having at least
some effect on local community

26

Contributes to climate change a great deal
Human activity

14

Natural patterns

15

59

Government is doing too little to ...
Protect water quality of lakes,
rivers and streams

Protect air quality

38

30

Reduce effects of climate change

24

Protect animals and their habitats

29

Protect open lands in
national parks

23

84

84

92

94

95

90

86

62

49

35

68

67

67

62

55

U.S. should prioritize developing
alternative energy sources

Favor expanding use of ...
Solar panel farms

49

94

77

81

98

92

Wind turbine farms

71

94

Nuclear power plants

39

63

Offshore oil and gas drilling

Hydraulic fracturing

Coal mining

12

13

9

0

76

66

66

20

40

60

80

100

85

49

42

38

35

Note:  Republicans and Democrats include independents and others who “lean” toward the
parties. Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give an answer are not
shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

23

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Younger Republicans prioritize alternative energy
sources more than older Republicans
% of U.S. adults who say the following

Among Rep/lean Rep who are ...
Boomer and older
Gen Xer
Millennial and younger

Dem/
lean
Dem

Climate change having at least some
effect on their local community

32

47

Contributes to climate change a great deal
Human activity

14

34

Natural patterns

Government is doing too little to ...
Protect water quality of lakes,
rivers and streams

Protect air quality

Reduce effects of climate change

Protect animals and their habitats

Protect open lands in
national parks

U.S. should prioritize developing
alternative energy sources

Favor expanding use of ...
Solar panel farms

Wind turbine farms

Nuclear power plants

Offshore oil and gas drilling

Hydraulic fracturing

Coal mining

41

45

34

31

34

29

56

57

55

52

47

41

53

78

80

91

81

71

57

60

54

76

46

45

62

63

82

73

21

84

88

90

81

76

90

96

92

41

21

21

16

0

20

40

60

80

100

Note: Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

24

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Republican men and women tend to differ over
climate and energy issues
% of U.S. adults who say the following

Among Rep/lean Rep who are ...

Men

Women

Dem/
lean
Dem

Climate change having at least some
effect on their local community

28

48

Contributes to climate change a great deal
Human activity

17

Natural patterns

Government is doing too little to ...
Protect water quality of lakes,
rivers and streams

Protect air quality

Reduce effects of climate change

Protect animals and their habitats

35

34

34

27

44

44

56

56

49

46

47

Protect open lands in
national parks

27

38

U.S. should prioritize developing
alternative energy sources

Favor expanding use of ...
Solar panel farms

Wind turbine farms

Nuclear power plants

Offshore oil and gas drilling

Hydraulic fracturing

Coal mining

58

66

84

88

75

79

46

64

70

71

50

52

64

60

82

73

21

84

88

90

81

76

90

96

92

41

21

21

16

0

20

40

60

80

100

Note: Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

25

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Decline in support for more offshore
drilling among Democrats since 2016
% of U.S. adults who favor more offshore oil and gas
drilling in U.S. waters

85

86

Republican/lean Rep

65

51

56

64

64

68

75

40

27

Democrat/lean Dem

32

22

21

'08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19

Note: Surveys conducted from 2008 to 2015 were conducted on
the phone using somewhat different question wording than those in
June 2016, April 2018 and October 2019.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

26

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Political divides over increasing
hydraulic fracturing
% of U.S. adults who favor more hydraulic fracturing for
oil and natural gas

Republican/lean Rep

71

58 59

58

60

57

37

34

31

28

25

21

Democrat/lean Dem

'08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19
Note: Surveys conducted from 2012 to 2015 were conducted on
the phone using somewhat different question wording than those in
June 2016, April 2018 and October 2019.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

27

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Political divides over time on support for
nuclear power
% of U.S. adults who favor more nuclear power plants to
generate electricity

Republican/lean Rep

60

65

59

51

51

53

59

36

38

37

38

39

41

34

Democrat/lean Dem

'08 '09 '10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18 '19

Note: Surveys conducted from 2008 to 2015 were conducted on
the phone using somewhat different question wording than those in
June 2016, April 2018 and October 2019.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

28

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Support for expanding coal mining is
down from 2016
% of U.S. adults who favor more coal mining

2016

2018

2019

U.S. adults

Rep/lean Rep

Dem/lean Dem

41

63

22

37

60

20

35

56

16

Note: Respondents who gave other responses or who did not give
an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

29

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Most say U.S. should prioritize alternative energy sources today
% of U.S. adults who say the more important priority for addressing America’s energy supply should be developing
alternative sources such as wind, solar and hydrogen technology or expanding production of oil, coal and natural gas

U.S. adults

Republican/lean Rep

Democrat/lean Dem

90

Develop alternative sources

77

63

65

60

65

47

39

29

28 30

Expand production of
oil, coal, natural gas

22

27

Both should be
given equal
priority

48

41

63

24

45

44

62

37

73

21

80

81

15

14

9

'11

'13

'15

'17

'19

'11

'13

'15

'17

'19

'11

'13

'15

'17

'19

Note: Surveys conducted from 2011 to 2017 were conducted on the phone using somewhat different question wording than the October
2019 survey. “Both should be given equal priority” was a volunteered response. Respondents who did not give an answer are not shown.
Source: Survey conducted Oct. 1-13, 2019.
“U.S. Public Views on Climate and Energy”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

www.pewresearch.org

30

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Survey question wording and topline

2019 PEW RESEARCH CENTER’S AMERICAN TRENDS PANEL
WAVE 55 FINAL TOPLINE
OCTOBER 1-13, 2019
TOTAL N=3,627

ASK ALL:
ENV2

Do you favor or oppose EXPANDING each of the following sources of energy in our
country? [RANDOMIZE ITEMS]

Favor

Oppose

No Answer

a. More offshore oil and gas drilling

in U.S. waters

Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018
May 10-Jun 6, 2016

b. More nuclear power plants to

generate electricity
Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018
May 10-Jun 6, 2016

c.  More coal mining

Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018
May 10-Jun 6, 2016

d. More solar panel “farms”
Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018
May 10-Jun 6, 2016

e. More hydraulic fracturing,

sometimes called “fracking,” for
oil and natural gas
Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018
May 10-Jun 6, 2016

f.  More wind turbine “farms”
Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018
May 10-Jun 6, 2016

42
39
45

49
44
43

35
37
41

92
89
89

38
39
42

85
85
83

56
60
52

49
54
54

63
61
57

8
10
9

60
58
53

14
13
14

1
1
3

2
2
3

2
2
3

1
1
2

2
2
5

1
2
3

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PEW RESEARCH CENTER

ASK FORM 1 [N=1,816]:
EN1F1

Right now, which ONE of the following do you think should be the more important
priority for addressing America’s energy supply? [RANDOMIZE RESPONSE OPTIONS]

Oct 1-13
2019

77

22

1

Developing alternative sources, such as wind, solar and
hydrogen technology
Expanding exploration and production of oil, coal and natural
gas
No answer

TREND FOR COMPARISON:
Pew Research Center survey conducted by telephone: Right now, which ONE of the following do you
think should be the more important priority for addressing America’s energy supply [READ AND
RANDOMIZE]?

Developing
alternative sources,
such as wind, solar
and hydrogen
technology
65
60
65
58
54
47
52

Expanding
exploration and
production of oil,
coal and natural
gas
27
30
28
34
34
39
39

(VOL.)
Both should be
given equal
priority
5
5
5
6
7
9
5

63

29

6

(VOL.)
DK/Ref
3
4
2
3
4
5
4

2

Jan 4-9, 2017
Dec 3-7, 2014
Feb 12-26, 2014
Sep 4-8, 2013
Feb 13-18, 2013
Oct 24-28, 2012
Mar 7-11, 2012
Feb 22-Mar 1,
2011

OTHER QUESTIONS HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE

ASK ALL:
ENV17

How often, if ever, do you make an effort to live in ways that help protect the
environment?

Oct 1-13
2019
25
63
9
2
<1

All the time
Some of the time
Not too often
Not at all
No answer

May 10-
June 6
2016
20
63
13
4
<1

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PEW RESEARCH CENTER

ASK FORM 1 [N=1,816]:
EN6F1

Do you do each of the following in your everyday life in order TO HELP PROTECT THE
ENVIRONMENT, or don’t you? [RANDOMIZE ITEMS]

a.  Eat less meat

Oct 1-13, 2019

b. Drive less or carpool
Oct 1-13, 2019

c.  Reduce your food waste

Oct 1-13, 2019

d. Use fewer plastics that cannot be reused

(e.g., plastic bags, straws, cups)

Oct 1-13, 2019

e. Reduce the amount of water you use

Oct 1-13, 2019

Yes, I do
this

No, I do
not do this

No
answer

41

51

80

72

68

59

49

20

28

32

<1

<1

<1

1

<1

ASK FORM 2 [N=1,811]:
EN6F2

How much difference does it make when people do each of the following in their
everyday lives TO HELP PROTECT THE ENVIRONMENT? [RANDOMIZE ITEMS]

Makes a big
difference

Makes a small
difference

Makes almost
no difference

No
answer

a. Eating less meat

Oct 1-13, 2019

b. Driving less or carpooling
Oct 1-13, 2019

c.  Reducing their food waste
Oct 1-13, 2019

d. Using fewer plastics that
cannot be reused (e.g.,
plastic bags, straws, cups)

Oct 1-13, 2019

e. Reducing the amount of

water they use

Oct 1-13, 2019

24

52

52

67

50

38

40

37

26

40

38

7

10

<1

<1

<1

7

<1

10

<1

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PEW RESEARCH CENTER

ASK ALL:
ENVIR8

How much do you think the federal government is doing to… [RANDOMIZE ITEMS;
show on same screen]

Too much

Too little

About the
right amount

No
Answer

a.  Protect air quality
Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018

b.  Protect water quality of lakes,

rivers and streams
Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018

c.  Protect animals and their

habitats

Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018

d.  Protect open lands in national

parks and nature preserves

Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018

e.  Reduce the effects of global

climate change

Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018

4
8

4
6

7
9

5
8

10
13

67
64

68
69

62
63

55
57

67
67

28
27

27
24

31
27

39
34

23
19

1
1

1
1

1
1

1
1

1
1

RANDOMIZE ORDER OF EN7 and EN8
ASK ALL:
EN7

How much do you think human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels, contributes to
global climate change?

Oct 1-13
2019
49
30
14
5
2

A great deal
Some
Not too much
Not at all
No answer

ASK ALL:
EN8

How much do you think natural patterns in the Earth’s environment contribute to global
climate change?

Oct 1-13
2019
35
44
13
4
2

A great deal
Some
Not too much
Not at all
No answer

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PEW RESEARCH CENTER

RANDOMIZE ORDER OF CLIM5 AND CLIM6
ASK ALL:
CLIM5

Do you think policies aimed at reducing the effects of global climate change generally…
[RANDOMIZE RESPONSE OPTIONS 1 AND 2]

Oct 1-13
2019
33
30
35
2

Help the U.S. economy
Hurt the U.S. economy
Make no difference for the U.S. economy
No answer

Mar 27-
Apr 9
2018
30
31
36
2

ASK ALL:
CLIM6

Do you think policies aimed at reducing the effects of global climate change generally…
[RANDOMIZE RESPONSE OPTIONS 1 AND 2 IN SAME ORDER AS CLIM5]

Oct 1-13
2019
54
15
29
2

Do more GOOD than harm for the environment
Do more HARM than good for the environment
Make no difference for the environment
No answer

Mar 27-
Apr 9
2018
49
19
30
2

ASK FORM 1 [N=1,816]:
CLIM9F1

How much, if at all, do you think global climate change is currently affecting…

A great
deal

Some

Not too
much

Not at all

No Answer

a.  The United States
Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018

b.  Your local community
Oct 1-13, 2019
Mar 27-Apr 9, 2018

41
40

25
22

35
35

38
37

15
16

24
25

8
8

12
15

<1
<1

<1
<1

ASK FORM 2 [N=1,811]:
CLIM9F2

How much, if at all, do you think global climate change is currently affecting your local
community?

Oct 1-13, 2019

A great
deal
20

Some
40

Not too
much
25

Not at all
15

No Answer
1

COMBINED FORM 1 AND FORM 2 “YOUR LOCAL COMMUNITY” [N=3,627]
A great
deal

Not too
much

Not at all

Some

No Answer

Your local community
Oct 1-13, 2019

22

39

24

13

1

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35

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

ASK IF CLIM9F1B=1,2 OR CLIM9F2=1,2 (LOCAL COMMUNITY AFFECTED A GREAT DEAL OR
SOME) [N=2,284]:
CLIM10

Would you say each of the following is a MAJOR way that global climate change is
currently affecting your local community, or not? [RANDOMIZE ITEMS]

a.  Droughts or water shortages
Oct 1-13, 2019

b. Long periods of unusually hot weather

Oct 1-13, 2019

c.  Severe weather, like floods or intense

storms

Oct 1-13, 2019

d. Rising sea levels that erode beaches and

shore lines

Oct 1-13, 2019

e. Damage to forests and plant life

Oct 1-13, 2019

f.  Harm to animal wildlife and their habitats

Oct 1-13, 2019

g. More frequent wildfires

Oct 1-13, 2019

BASED ON ALL ASKED [N=2,284]

Yes, a
major way

No, not a
major way

No
answer

64

79

35

21

1

1

70

29

<1

56

67

69

56

43

32

30

43

1

1

1

1

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36

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

CLIM10 CONTINUED

BASED ON TOTAL
[N=3627]

Answered
“Local
community
affected a
great deal
or some”
to
CLIM9F1_B
or
CLIM9F2

Answered
“Local
community
affected
not too
much/not
at all” to
CLIM9F1_B
or
CLIM9F2

No answer
to
CLIM9F1_B
or
CLIM9F2

Yes, a
major
way

No, not
a major
way

No
answer
to
CLIM10

a.  Droughts or water

shortages

Oct 1-13, 2019

62

39

22

1

38

b. Long periods of

unusually hot weather

Oct 1-13, 2019

62

49

13

<1

38

c.  Severe weather, like
floods or intense
storms

Oct 1-13, 2019

62

43

18

<1

38

d. Rising sea levels that
erode beaches and
shore lines

Oct 1-13, 2019

62

34

27

1

38

e. Damage to forests and

plant life

Oct 1-13, 2019

62

41

20

<1

38

f.  Harm to animal

wildlife and their
habitats

Oct 1-13, 2019

62

43

19

<1

38

g. More frequent

wildfires

Oct 1-13, 2019

62

35

27

1

38

1

1

1

1

1

1

1

OTHER QUESTIONS HELD FOR FUTURE RELEASE

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