Voters Say It’s Time for Congress to Take Action on Climate Change
By Danielle Deiseroth
Key Findings
Over two-thirds of voters are concerned about the impacts of pollution, extreme weather, and climate change on their communities.
A majority of voters (70 percent) think it is important that Congress addresses climate change.
When informed of the plan’s climate and clean energy investments, voters support the Build Back Better Act by a +39-point margin.
Investments to make energy efficiency upgrades in homes, buildings, and schools, investments in clean energy research and development, and tax incentives for new clean energy projects are among the most important Build Back Better proposals that voters want to see pass.
Majorities of Democrats, Independents, and Republicans support a fee on oil and gas companies that produce excess methane pollution.
While a majority of voters support a $7,500 electric vehicle (EV) tax credit for consumers, voters are more supportive of a tax credit system that provides extra incentives for purchasing EVs produced in American factories by union workers.
If lawmakers fail to pass the Build Back Better Act, 15 percent of Democrats and nearly a third of Independents (28 percent) say they will be less motivated to vote for Democrats in the November 2022 midterm elections.
Throughout 2021, lawmakers in Congress negotiated details of President Biden’s Build Back Better plan. As we begin 2022 — and with the midterm elections approaching closer every day — lawmakers have yet to pass the legislation, which includes vital investments to kickstart America’s path toward reducing half of our climate pollution by 2030.
In a January 2022 national survey, Climate Power and Data for Progress assessed the attitudes of likely voters toward the Build Back Better Act, especially the plan’s investments to address climate change and transition toward a clean energy future. We find that voters across party lines are overwhelmingly concerned about pollution and extreme weather, and they want Congress to act. Moreover, ahead of the November midterm elections, we find that voters are paying attention to whether lawmakers pass the Build Back Better Act and take action to address climate change.
Voters, Concerned About Climate Change, Want Congress to Act
After rare December wildfires ravaged homes in Colorado, voters indicate they are overwhelmingly concerned about pollution, extreme weather, and climate change. While a majority of voters say they are “very” or “somewhat” concerned about each of these issues, voters are most concerned about air and water pollution.
Given voters’ concern about climate change, a significant majority think Congress should act. Over two-thirds of all voters (70 percent) — including nearly all Democrats (92 percent), a majority of Independents (71 percent), and roughly half of Republicans (46 percent) — think it is “very” or “somewhat” important that Congress takes action to address climate change.
Voters Support the Build Back Better Act’s Proposals to Invest in Climate and Clean Energy
When voters are informed about the Build Back Better Act’s investments in climate and clean energy, we find the proposal enjoys a +39-point margin of support. The plan remains overwhelmingly popular, especially among Democrats (91 percent support) and Independents (67 percent). Nearly half of Republicans (45 percent) also support the proposal.
A majority of voters think it is “Very” or “Somewhat” important to pass all of the Build Back Better Act’s major climate and clean energy provisions. That said, the proposals that voters think are most important for lawmakers to pass are investments to make homes, buildings, and schools more energy-efficient to lower energy costs; investments to research and develop new clean energy technologies; and tax incentives for clean energy projects, like wind and solar energy.
Lawmakers are currently debating whether to include several other climate-focused policies as part of the Build Back Better Act, and two of them enjoy widespread bipartisan support. First, voters support a fee on oil and gas companies that emit excess methane pollution by a +43-point margin. There is a strong bipartisan consensus on this proposal: Majorities of Democrats (82 percent), Independents (67 percent), and Republicans (52 percent) all support a methane fee.
Moreover, we find that voters across party lines are widely supportive of a system of consumer tax credits for electric vehicles (EVs) that includes higher incentives for consumers who purchase cars made by union workers in American factories. A majority of Democrats (79 percent), roughly half of Independents (54 percent), and 46 percent of Republicans support a $7,500 federal EV tax credit to lower costs for consumers. However, support for the tax credits increases +5 points among Democrats, +8 points among Independents, and +5 points among Republicans when respondents are told the tax credit would be worth $12,500 for EVs made in American factories by union workers.
Looking Ahead to the Midterms, Voters Want Lawmakers to Pass the Build Back Better Act
President Biden, Vice President Harris, and Democrats in Congress won in November 2020 after campaigning on the most ambitious climate policy platform in history. Looking ahead to the 2022 midterm elections, voters — especially the Democratic base — will be mindful of whether or not they fulfill their pledges to take action on climate change. Over three-quarters of Democrats (76 percent) say that if Democrats fail to pass the Build Back Better Act, they would be more motivated to vote for Democrats in 2022 to ensure they pass the bill. Given this enthusiasm for passing Build Back Better, it is clear that Democrats want Congress to pass the bill. Meanwhile, if Democrats fail to pass the Build Back Better plan, they may risk losing voters who could deliver them a victory come November: Fifteen percent of Democrats and 28 percent of Independents say they would be less motivated to vote for Democrats if they fail to pass the Build Back Better plan.
As we saw in the November 2020 election, Democrats won in critical battleground states by narrow margins. As Democrats seek to retain control of Congress, they should pass the Build Back Better Act or risk losing support from crucial voters. Time is running out for lawmakers to act on climate change — and voters want them to take action now.
Danielle Deiseroth (@danielledeis) is the Senior Climate Strategist at Data for Progress.