Voters want climate questions at the debates

One week before the first presidential debate of the U.S. general election, our new national poll finds strong voter support for climate action and for moderators asking Joe Biden and Donald Trump questions about climate change during the presidential debates.

About three-quarters (74%) of registered voters say they want climate questions asked during the three presidential debates, according to our new poll conducted on behalf of The Guardian, VICE Media Group and Covering Climate Now with Climate Nexus, and the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.

Nearly two-thirds (65%) of registered voters say they are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports 100% clean electricity by 2035, and seven out of 10 (70%) support the United States’ participation in the Paris Agreement. Almost two-thirds (65%) of voters say comprehensive climate legislation should be a priority for the next Congress and the president in 2021, including about a third (34%) who say it should be a top priority.

A partisan divide between Republicans and Democrats around climate change persists, but a majority (72%) of American voters across the political spectrum support climate action, including majorities of Democrats (85%), Independents (71%), and Republicans (56%).

The Green New Deal also has majority support among the American electorate. Defined as “a plan to significantly reduce carbon pollution and create millions of jobs by spending billions of government dollars on infrastructure, wind and solar energy, and more efficient buildings and transportation systems,” a Green New Deal is supported by 82% of Democrats and 52% of independents. Republicans are evenly split on the idea, with 41% supporting and 41% opposed, a marked contrast to the nearly unanimous opposition expressed by Republican politicians and right-wing media outlets.

There are many more fascinating results, including public priorities for different national issues, evaluations of President Trump and other officials’ performance in office, support for different climate change policies, investment priorities for a potential economic recovery package, breakdowns by political party, and more. For more details, please see the poll toplines.

As always, thanks for your interest and support!

Center for Climate Change Communication, George Mason University

Fairfax, Virginia 22032

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