Climate Change in the American Mind

A survey of 896 registered U.S. voters in Spring 2024 reveals broad support for clean energy policies and climate justice, though global warming remains a lower-ranked voting priority overall compared to the economy. While 62% of voters prefer candidates who support climate action, there is a sharp partisan divide in how important the issue is for the 2024 election. Majorities support transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050 and the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022, but few believe the U.S. government is currently responding well to the crisis.

• Global warming is a low-priority voting issue for the general public, ranking 19th out of 28 issues in terms of being 'very important' to the 2024 presidential election, with only 3% of registered voters identifying it as their most important issue.
• There is strong general preference for candidates who support climate action, with 62% of registered voters preferring such candidates, though this is heavily split by party: 97% of liberal Democrats versus 17% of conservative Republicans.
• Registered voters show high support for specific carbon-reduction policies, including federal funding for soil carbon sequestration (86%), training for fossil fuel workers to move into renewables (77%), and tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels (77%).
• A majority of voters (66%) support transitioning the U.S. economy to 100% clean energy by 2050, and 79% support generating renewable energy on public land.
• There is broad support for climate justice initiatives, with 86% favoring more green spaces in low-income communities and communities of color, and 80% supporting stricter enforcement of industrial pollution limits in those same areas.
• While 74% of registered voters support the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 after reading a description, only 39% have heard 'a lot' or 'some' about the law, and only 33% believe it will help them personally.
• Voters are divided on the economic impact of clean energy: 50% believe clean energy policies will improve economic growth and jobs, while 28% believe they will reduce growth and cost jobs.
• There is a widespread perception that the U.S. government is failing to address global warming, with only 15% of registered voters believing the government is responding well.
• Despite a willingness to take action if asked—such as 54% who would sign a petition—actual political engagement is low, with only 11% having contacted government officials about global warming in the past year.
• Collective efficacy is moderate, with 49% of registered voters feeling at least moderately confident that citizens working together can influence federal government action on global warming.

APA

Center for Climate Change Communication (2024). Climate Change in the American Mind. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/climate-change-american-mind-politics-policy-spring-2024.pdf

Chicago

Center for Climate Change Communication. Climate Change in the American Mind. 2024. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/climate-change-american-mind-politics-policy-spring-2024.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for Climate Change Communication |title=Climate Change in the American Mind |date=March 2024 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/climate-change-american-mind-politics-policy-spring-2024.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforclimatechangecommunication2024climate, author = {{Center for Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Climate Change in the American Mind}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2024}, month = mar, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/climate-change-american-mind-politics-policy-spring-2024.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }