Climate change is viewed as an issue that needs attention today and majorities view government, industry -- and even 'ordinary Americans' -- as doing 'too little' to help reduce its effects. 2/x
Americans continue to prioritize alternative energy development (like wind and solar) over fossil fuels, but public is roughly divided over phasing out gas-powered cars by 2035; opposes eliminating fossil fuels from energy picture altogether 3/x
Youngest generations are most open to break with fossil fuels. For example, 56% of #GenZ, 57% of #Millennials favor phasing out production of gas-powered cars by 2035. Gen X and Boomer and older oppose this idea. @pewresearch 4/x
Array of policies to reduce #climatechange impacts remain popular with public. Including policies -- like tax credits for carbon capture and storage -- that receive bipartisan support. 5/x
More favor than oppose components of Biden infrastructure proposal - like spending to build EV charging network - that aim to consider climate impacts in work. 6/x
Mixed assessments of Biden's overall approach on #climatechange. Share of Americans who think he will:
▪️ Not go far enough (41%)
▪️ Go too far (29%)
▪️ Be about right (28%)
Narrow majority of Dems (54%) think he won't go far enough; 60% of Reps think he'll go too far. 7/x
Some forms of political engagement - like voting - skew older. But #GenZ (32%), #Millennials (28%) more likely than older adults to have taken at least 1 of 4 actions to help address #climatechange within last year @pewresearch 8/x
#climatechange plays more prominent role in lives of younger adults. #GenZ and #Millennials report talking more about the need for action on climate and are more likely than older adults to say they've been personally encouraged to get involved. 9/x
Yes, younger are more likely than older to be on social media.
But when controlling for social media use, #GenZ and #Millennials still significantly more likely to engage with #climatechange content online than #GenX and #BabyBoomer and older adults 10/x
Among social media users, share who say it made them feel 'anxious about the future' the last time they saw content about #climatechange online:
▪️ #GenZ: 69%
▪️ #Millennials: 59%
▪️ #GenX: 48%
▪️ #BabyBoomer+ 41% 11/x
Generational patterns in views of climate and energy are not simply reflection of greater Democratic orientation of younger adults.
For example, *among Dems* #GenZ and #Millennials more open to break with fossil fuels than older Dems 12/x
Within #GOP, GenZ and Millennials are more likely than older Republicans to say an array of actors - including businesses and energy industry - are doing 'too little' to help reduce effects of climate change. @pewscience 13/x
Younger Republicans more likely than older to say federal government is doing 'too little' across range of environmental concerns.
But as is often case, gaps within #GOP smaller than partisan gaps between Reps and Dems more generally 14/x
Asked about priorities for climate policies, partisans cite differing considerations:
▪️ Majorities of Dems say protecting enviro for future gens, helping low-income communities are very important
▪️ Majorities of Reps cite increasing econ growth; keeping consumer costs low 15/x
Report finds lower-income as well as Black and Hispanic adults are especially likely to say their community has moderate or big problems with environmental problems, such as waste and air and water pollution. 16/x
Big demographic and partisan differences in the shares who say it's 'very important' that proposals on #climatechange help lower-income communities. 17/x
On broader conversations about #climatechange, 54% of Americans say climate scientists have 'too little' influence on policy debates.
Younger adults are especially likely to express this view. @pewscience 18/x
New @pewresearch on trust in scientists out today. Short thread on top findings, including the role Americans want scientists to play in policy debates on #science issues🧵 pewrsr.ch/3USzH0S
76% of Americans have a 'great deal' or a 'fair amount' of confidence in scientists to act in the public's best interests.
Confidence is up slightly (+3pts) in the last year, though it remains lower than levels seen before the pandemic.
A larger majority of Democrats (88%) than Republicans (66%) express confidence in scientists to act in the public's best interest. This partisan gap remains wider than pre-pandemic.
Still, Republican confidence has ticked higher in last year (from 61% to 66%).
Remembering @pewresearch founder Andy Kohut on the 5th anniversary of his death today. This @AAPOR heritage interview (w/ @c_deane!) a wonderful way to look back on remarkable life and career. A few highlights for me. Thread 1/n bit.ly/33aq9Tf
Andy started his polling career @Gallup because he and his wife needed $650 to pay the hospital fees for the birth of their first child!
Began as a part-time position in evenings while he was doing graduate studies at Rutgers. 2/n.
He left studies because he was 'learning so much at Gallup' and excited by the variety of the work, including marketing research.
Columbia Pictures was an early client, including survey work on the film Easy Rider! 3/n
This week @pewresearch released an updated analysis of long-term trends in party identification. It's a great report and a must-read for anyone with an interest in U.S. politics. Let's take a look! (thread) 1/x pewrsr.ch/2z8eSba
The balance of party ID among all U.S. registered voters has been fairly stable. Dems hold 49%-44% edge over GOP in leaned party ID in data running thru 2019. Comparable to other recent moments. But a lot is happening under the hood! 2/x
The gender gap in party ID is now as wide as at any moment in @pewresearch data going back to 1994. Women are 14 pts more likely than men to identify or lean Dem. Avg gap was 9 pts between 1994 and 2014. 3/x
#CoronavirusOutbreak has upended life for Americans of all backgrounds and circumstances. But our @pewresearch polling over last month has found some groups being hit harder than others. Thread on what we've found so far 1/.
From our first survey, we've seen big gaps in personal health concerns. Black and Hispanic Americans have been much more likely than whites to say outbreak is a 'major' threat to their own health. Older adults also more likely to express this than younger adults. 2/.
Negative job impacts from outbreak vary widely across groups. In mid-March, Hispanic adults, younger adults and those with lower incomes were especially likely to say their household had already faced job loss/pay cut. 3/. pewrsr.ch/39Xf8Gx