NEW POLL: Americans Want Bold Climate Investments that Create Opportunities at Home and Demonstrate U.S. Leadership Abroad

Americans want the U.S to be the leader in climate action by enacting policies to put the country on a path to cut emissions in half by 2030

Washington, D.C. – As Congress nears a possible agreement on a framework to move forward on President Biden’s Build Back Better Act, brand new polling released today by Climate Power and Data for Progress reveals Americans’ desire for strong climate action to remain at its core. The framework, expected to include strong climate and clean energy policies, comes as President Biden set to head to Glasgow, Scotland to attend the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), where he will discuss global commitments to address climate change with other world leaders.

The new poll, conducted by Data for Progress in partnership with Climate Power, found that voters across party lines agree that the U.S. should work with other countries to combat the global climate crisis. Three-quarters of all voters (75 percent), including 92 percent of Democrats, 75 percent of Independents, and 57 percent of Republicans, agree the U.S. should work with other countries to combat climate change and reduce global climate pollution.

Large majorities also believe the climate and clean energy investments in the Build Back Better Act are the most important to pass, including investments in energy efficiency, clean energy technologies, and communities that have been historically hit hard by pollution. The poll also finds that a majority of voters disapprove of lawmakers who would oppose bold climate action and instead, will support candidates in next year’s midterms who get behind the Build Back Better Act’s climate investments.

“Voters have spoken and they want Congress to pass bold climate action with the Build Back Better Act,” said Noreen Nielsen, senior advisor for Climate Power. “Now, it’s up to lawmakers to deliver for American families and at the same time, show the world that our nation is still a global climate leader. Congress must meet the moment by passing the Climate Test and building back better in a way that will benefit families now and the generations yet to come.”

The survey’s key findings include:

Three-quarters of all voters (75 percent), including 92 percent of Democrats, 75 percent of Independents, and 57 percent of Republicans, agree the U.S. should work with other countries to combat climate change and reduce global greenhouse gas emissions.
Voters also think the proposal’s key climate and clean energy proposals are especially important to pass.
80 percent think it is important for homes, buildings, and schools to be more energy efficient.
79 percent want to see investments in communities negatively affected by pollution.
78 percent of voters support clean electricity performance incentives to encourage utility companies to switch to clean energy.
72 percent of voters support increasing tax incentives for clean energy projects such as solar and wind energy.
69 percent of voters support making electric vehicles more affordable for consumers.

Finally, by a +28-point margin, voters indicate they are more likely to vote for a candidate in next year’s midterm elections who supports the Build Back Better plan over a candidate who opposes the legislation. Notably, 86 percent of Democrats and 55 percent of Independents say they are more likely to back a candidate who supports the Build Back Better plan.

While a majority of voters support the Build Back Better plan, voters also think the proposal’s key climate and clean energy proposals are especially important to pass. A majority of voters think it is “Very” or “Somewhat” important that lawmakers pass all of the Build Back Better plan’s key climate and clean energy proposals. Of these, the policies voters think are of the most critical importance are investments to improve energy efficiency in homes, buildings, and schools, investments to research and develop clean energy technologies, and investments in communities that have historically been negatively impacted by pollution.

A more detailed breakdown of the survey’s findings and charts can be found here.