Voters Support the Creation of a New Climate Conservation Corps

By Danielle Deiseroth, Senior Climate Data Analyst, Data for Progress

Key Findings

  • A majority of all voters (65 percent) support the Civilian Climate Corps, and the proposal enjoys net support among Democrats, Independents, and Republicans

  • The Civilian Climate Corps is especially popular among young voters and rural voters, enjoying 68 percent support among voters under 45 and 64 percent support among rural voters

  • Half of voters under 45 (50 percent) say they would consider working in the Civilian Climate Corps if a job was available to them

Introduction

In April 2021, Senator Ed Markey and Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez introduced legislation to create a new Civilian Climate Corps that would put 1.5 million Americans to work over the next five years in federally-funded projects to tackle climate change, revitalize America’s public lands and waters, and transition to a clean energy economy. This legislation comes on the heels of significant legislative momentum behind the proposal, with President Joe Biden including $10 billion in funding for a Civilian Climate Corps in the American Jobs Plan.

In a new April 2021 national survey, Data for Progress assessed the attitudes of likely voters towards the Civilian Climate Corps and whether or not they would consider taking a job in the Civilian Climate Corps if one was available to them. Data for Progress finds voters widely back the creation of a Civilian Climate Corps, and young voters are especially interested in joining the Corps. 

 

The Civilian Climate Corps Enjoys Widespread Support

Voters across party lines, age groups, and geographies all support the Civilian Climate Corps. A majority of all likely voters (65 percent), including nearly all Democrats (83 percent), two-thirds of Independents (66 percent), and a plurality of Republicans (44 percent) all support the Civilian Climate Corps. The Civilian Climate Corps is especially popular among voters under 45 (68 percent support), and enjoys high levels of support among voters over 45 as well (63 percent support). Notably, support among urban, suburban, and rural voters is nearly equivalent: A majority of rural voters (64 percent), suburban voters (65 percent), and urban voters (62 percent) all support the Civilian Climate Corps.

 
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Young Voters Are Enthusiastic About Participating in the Civilian Climate Corps

Data for Progress also assessed whether or not voters would consider working in the Civilian Climate Corps if a job was available to them. Among all likely voters, over one-third (38 percent) say they would consider working in the Civilian Climate Corps. However, young voters are especially enthusiastic about the potential of participating in the Corps. Half of voters under 45 (50 percent) say they would consider working in the Civilian Climate Corps if a job was available to them.

 
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Conclusion

The Civilian Climate Corps is an overwhelmingly popular proposal that can revitalize communities across the nation and help America tackle the climate crisis. Young voters have faced an unemployment crisis since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, and they are eager to get to work by participating in the Civilian Climate Corps. With widespread support among Democrats, Independents, and Republicans — as well as voters across different age groups and geographies — lawmakers should feel confident supporting the Civilian Climate Corps.

Danielle Deiseroth (@danielledeis) is the Senior Climate Data Analyst at Data for Progress.

Survey Methodology

From April 14 to April 15, 2021, Data for Progress conducted a survey of 1210 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.

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