At a Critical Moment for the Build Back Better Act, Voters Want It Passed with Bold Climate Action at its Core
By Danielle Deiseroth, Senior Climate Data Analyst, Data for Progress
Introduction
After months of negotiations, lawmakers in Congress are nearing a deal to pass a pared-down version of President Biden’s Build Back Better plan. Though it is expected to include strong climate provisions, these climate and clean energy policies hang in the balance as lawmakers finalize the bill’s framework. This legislation could not come at a more critical time, as President Biden heads to Glasgow, Scotland in early November to attend the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26), where he will discuss global actions to address climate change with other world leaders.
In an October 2021 national survey, Data for Progress and Climate Power assessed the attitudes of likely voters towards taking actions to address climate change at home and abroad. We find that voters overwhelmingly agree that the U.S. should be a global leader on climate change, especially headed into negotiations with other world leaders in Glasgow. We also find that the Build Back Better plan — including the key climate and clean energy provisions — remains popular, and voters want to see the Build Back Better plan take significant steps towards reducing U.S. greenhouse gas emissions.
Voters Want the U.S. to Lead the World in Climate Action
With COP26 quickly approaching, 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 greenhouse gas emissions.
There is also bipartisan agreement that the U.S. should lead the world in taking action to address climate change. Over two-thirds of voters (68 percent), including nearly all Democrats (90 percent), a majority of Independents (62 percent), and a plurality of Republicans (47 percent), agree that the U.S. should lead the world in addressing climate change so other countries will follow suit.
Voters Support Investments to Address Climate Change and Transition to Clean Energy
The Build Back Better Plan, which includes key investments to address climate change and transition to clean energy, remains popular among voters. After providing voters with a brief description of the plan, nearly two-thirds of voters (64 percent) say they support the proposal. The Build Back Better plan is especially popular among Democrats, who support the proposal by an overwhelming +83-point margin, and Independents, who support it by a +28-point margin.
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.
Though a majority of voters think it is important that Congress passes these policies, some lawmakers have expressed opposition to several of the plan’s proposals that aim to significantly reduce the pollution that contributes to climate change. However, by a +29-point margin, voters agree that the Build Back Better plan should make significant progress towards achieving President Biden’s goal of reducing climate pollution in half by 2030. Democrats agree with this measure by a +81-point margin, while Independents agree by a +21-point margin.
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.
It is clear that voters want the U.S. to demonstrate climate leadership abroad and at home. As the U.S. heads to the critical COP26 summit, a bipartisan majority of voters agree the U.S. should both work with other nations to combat the global climate crisis and exhibit leadership on climate change to encourage other countries to follow suit. Moreover, voters widely support the Build Back Better plan, which includes significant investments to address climate change and transition to clean energy. Despite some lawmakers expressing opposition to several of these critical investments, voters want the Build Back Better plan to make strides towards achieving President Biden’s goal of cutting climate pollution in half by 2030. Given that voters widely support the Build Back Better plan and are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports the proposal, lawmakers should feel confident passing the ambitious climate and clean energy investments included in the Build Back Better plan.
Danielle Deiseroth (@danielledeis) is the Senior Climate Data Analyst at Data for Progress.
Methodology
From October 20 to 24, 2021, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1,135 likely voters nationally using web panel respondents. The sample was weighted to be representative of likely voters by age, gender, education, race, and voting history. The survey was conducted in English. The margin of error is ±3 percentage points.