Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy

The report finds broad support among U.S. registered voters for renewable energy research, energy efficiency in low-income communities, and transitioning the economy to 100% clean energy by 2050. While 68% support the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) after reading a description, only 41% believe it will increase clean energy innovation and 34% believe it will reduce global warming. There is a significant gap between the willingness of voters to take political action and their actual engagement in the past year. Additionally, 75% of voters believe schools should teach children about global warming.

• A majority of registered voters view climate and energy as government priorities, with 52% stating global warming should be a high or very high priority and 65% stating the development of clean energy sources should be a high or very high priority for the president and Congress.
• There is strong support for specific climate policies: 79% support renewable energy research, 78% support energy efficiency funding for low-income residential buildings, 74% support regulating carbon dioxide as a pollutant, and 66% support transitioning the U.S. economy to 100% clean energy by 2050.
• Voters support conservation and restoration efforts, including 84% supporting federal funding for soil carbon restoration by farmers and 78% supporting jobs programs to hire unemployed coal or oil and gas workers to close abandoned mines and wells.
• While 79% of registered voters support renewable energy on public land, support for fossil fuel production remains a majority, with 59% supporting expanded offshore drilling and 56% supporting drilling and mining on public land.
• Support for climate-friendly infrastructure is generally high both nationally and locally, though local support is slightly lower (e.g., solar farms: 66% national vs 61% local; wind farms: 65% national vs 57% local).
• Regarding the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), 68% of registered voters support it after reading a description, but only 43% have heard "a lot" or "some" about it. Among those who have heard of it, the most common association is "skepticism" (16%).
• Voters express low confidence in the IRA's ability to meet its goals: only 34% believe it will reduce global warming, 24% believe it will reduce inflation, and 18% believe it will reduce the cost of electricity.
• There is a strong desire for corporations and industry to do more to address global warming (66%), and a widespread belief that the U.S. government is not responding well to the issue (only 12% agree that it is).
• Actual political engagement is low compared to stated willingness; for example, 49% say they would sign a petition if asked, but only 16% have actually signed one in the past year.
• Collective efficacy is higher regarding the federal government (42% moderately confident) than regarding corporations (35% moderately confident).
• There is broad consensus on education, with 75% of registered voters agreeing that schools should teach children about the causes, consequences, and potential solutions to global warming.

APA

Center for Climate Change Communication (2022). Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/climate-change-american-mind-politics-policy-december-2022.pdf

Chicago

Center for Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy. 2022. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/climate-change-american-mind-politics-policy-december-2022.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics & Policy |date=December 2022 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/climate-change-american-mind-politics-policy-december-2022.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforclimatechangecommunication2022climate, author = {{Center for Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind: Politics \& Policy}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2022}, month = dec, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/climate-change-american-mind-politics-policy-december-2022.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }