James Smith
Record heat, hurricanes and wildfires have been in the news in recent years. And while not everyone agrees that events like these are the direct result of climate change, they to do Connect with people’s opinions on the issue: A large majority of Americans feel the US needs to address climate change, with those who report experiencing extreme weather being more likely to say we should do it now.
Views on climate change have long been associated with partisanship, and still are, but age is also a factor. Younger Americans, including younger Republicans, are even more likely to say the U.S. needs to take steps to at least try to slow it down.
There is also a sense of urgency on the part of many citizens. A large majority think this issue needs to be addressed for at least the next few years, including half who think this issue needs to be addressed now.
There is a sense that we must address climate change, and there is also some belief that we must he can.
This also extends to the personal level. Most Americans believe that humans can do something to at least slow the effects of climate change, and those who think so feel they have a personal responsibility to do something about it.
Extreme weather and climate change
People who report experiencing extreme weather in their area in recent years – which accounts for half the country – are more inclined than those who do not to believe that climate change is an important factor contributing to extreme weather. and more of them see the issue as one that needs to be resolved immediately.
And even if people don’t experience extreme weather, such events can generate concern. When people hear that the Earth is experiencing its highest temperatures on record, more than half say this makes them more concerned about climate change. Those who don’t see climate change as a driver of extreme weather are less persuaded by this, including some who don’t believe the Earth’s temperature is rising.
Young people and political divisions over climate change
Majorities across all age groups are in favor of the U.S. taking action to address climate change, but it is people under 45 — many of whom say they learned about climate change in school — who are especially likely to support the country’s action.
There have long been political divisions on the approach to climate change, with Democrats expressing more concern than Republicans. This continues today, to some extent. Democrats are twice as likely as Republicans to say climate change needs to be addressed now. And Democrats overwhelmingly support the US taking action to reduce climate change, but Republicans are divided on this.
Divisions in the Republican Party on Climate?
The divisions within the Republican Party base that we see are along age and ideological lines. A majority of younger Republicans — those under 45 — support the U.S. taking action to slow or stop climate change, while a majority of older Republicans do not.
More moderate Republicans also view climate change as more pressing than those who are more conservative.
And like the general public, Republicans who report experiencing extreme weather in their local area are more likely to think that climate change needs to be addressed.
This CBS News/YouGov poll was conducted with a nationally representative sample of 2,230 adult U.S. residents interviewed between April 16 and April 19, 2024. The sample was weighted according to gender, age, race and education based on the Community Survey American Census Bureau and Current Population Survey, as well as past voting. The margin of error is ±2.7 points.
