Politics & Global Warming

A December 2020 survey of 949 registered U.S. voters reveals broad support for clean energy development, energy efficiency, and international climate cooperation, though significant partisan divides persist regarding the urgency of global warming and specific regulatory policies. While majorities support transitioning to 100% clean energy by 2050 and the Paris Climate Agreement, support for fossil fuel expansion remains higher among Republicans. The report also highlights a general consensus on the economic benefits of clean energy and the importance of climate education in schools.

• A majority of registered voters believe that developing clean energy and addressing global warming should be government priorities, though support for the latter is lower. Specifically, 66% view clean energy as a "high or very high priority for the president and Congress," while 53% say the same for global warming.
• There is strong bipartisan support for several clean energy and efficiency policies, including tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles or solar panels (82%), funding for renewable energy research (82%), and stronger energy efficiency standards for new buildings (86%).
• Registered voters show significant support for transitioning the U.S. economy to 100% clean energy by 2050 (72%) and for the U.S. to eliminate all carbon pollution from coal, oil, and natural gas by 2050 (66%).
• Public opinion on fossil fuel production is divided; while 40% support drilling and mining fossil fuels on public land and 47% support offshore drilling, only 28% support drilling in Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.
• There is broad support for international climate leadership, with 75% of registered voters supporting U.S. participation in the Paris Climate Agreement and 79% supporting the U.S. president hosting a meeting of leaders from large industrialized nations to reduce global warming.
• Voters generally believe clean energy is an economic driver, with 56% stating that clean energy policies will "improve economic growth and create jobs" and 61% believing clean energy production will create more new jobs than fossil fuel production.
• A majority of registered voters (66%) support the Green New Deal, although only 18% of respondents report having heard "a lot" about the proposal.
• There is high support for conservation and restoration, including 86% supporting federal funding for farmers to improve soil carbon storage and 85% supporting the re-establishment of the Civilian Conservation Corps.
• Regarding responsibility for action, 70% of registered voters believe corporations and industry should do more to address global warming, and 64% believe the U.S. should reduce emissions regardless of other countries' actions.
• Climate change was a significant factor for nearly half of the electorate in the 2020 election, with 48% of registered voters stating it was an important factor in determining their vote.

APA

Center for Climate Change Communication (2020). Politics & Global Warming. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/politics-global-warming-december-2020b.pdf

Chicago

Center for Climate Change Communication. Politics & Global Warming. 2020. https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/politics-global-warming-december-2020b.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Center for Climate Change Communication |title=Politics & Global Warming |date=December 2020 |url=https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/politics-global-warming-december-2020b.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{centerforclimatechangecommunication2020politics, author = {{Center for Climate Change Communication}}, title = {{Politics \& Global Warming}}, institution = {Center for Climate Change Communication}, year = {2020}, month = dec, url = {https://climatecommunication.gmu.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/politics-global-warming-december-2020b.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }