Changes in U.S. voters’ top reasons to reduce global warming

The report finds that while providing a better life for future generations remains the top reason for U.S. voters to reduce global warming, there has been a significant shift toward present-day concerns, specifically preventing extreme weather and global poverty. Conversely, motivations based on energy independence, religious creation, and economic growth have declined across most political groups.

• The most frequently cited reasons for reducing global warming among all U.S. registered voters in 2024 were providing a better life for children and grandchildren (47%), preventing extreme weather events (37%), and preventing the destruction of most life on the planet (37%).
• Between 2017 and 2024, there were significant increases in voters selecting the prevention of extreme weather events (+9 percentage points) and saving people from poverty and starvation (+6 percentage points) as top reasons. During the same period, reasons such as freeing the U.S. from dependence on foreign oil, protecting God's creation, and creating green jobs all saw significant declines of 6 to 7 percentage points.
• Motivations vary by political ideology: liberal Democrats prioritize future generations (65%) and the destruction of life (51%), while conservative Republicans are most likely to state that the reasons are not applicable because global warming is not happening (37%).
• Arguments framed around conservative values, such as protecting God's creation and reducing dependence on foreign oil, have lost support over time, particularly among Republicans. Additionally, the economic argument for climate action has declined for all groups except moderate/conservative Democrats.

APA

Carman, J., Verner, M., Rosenthal, S., Kotcher, J., Maibach, E., & Leiserowitz, A. (2024). Changes in U.S. voters’ top reasons to reduce global warming. Center for Climate Change Communication. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/changes-in-u-s-voters-top-reasons-to-reduce-global-warming/

Chicago

Carman, J., M. Verner, S. Rosenthal, J. Kotcher, E. Maibach, and A. Leiserowitz. Changes in U.S. voters’ top reasons to reduce global warming. Center for Climate Change Communication, 2024. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/changes-in-u-s-voters-top-reasons-to-reduce-global-warming/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Carman |first1=J. |last2=Verner |first2=M. |last3=Rosenthal |first3=S. |last4=Kotcher |first4=J. |last5=Maibach |first5=E. |last6=Leiserowitz |first6=A. |title=Changes in U.S. voters’ top reasons to reduce global warming |publisher=Center for Climate Change Communication |date=11 September 2024 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/changes-in-u-s-voters-top-reasons-to-reduce-global-warming/ |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{carman2024changes, author = {Carman, J. and Verner, M. and Rosenthal, S. and Kotcher, J. and Maibach, E. and Leiserowitz, A.}, title = {{Changes in U.S. voters’ top reasons to reduce global warming}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2024}, month = sep, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/all/changes-in-u-s-voters-top-reasons-to-reduce-global-warming/}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }