CBS News poll finds big majority of Americans support U.S. taking steps to reduce climate change

Record heat, hurricanes and wildfires have made the news in recent years. And while not everyone agrees that events like these are a direct result of climate change, they TO DO Connect with people’s opinions on this topic: A large majority of Americans believe the United States needs to address climate change, and those who report experiencing extreme weather are more likely to say we should do now.

Views on climate change have long been associated with partisanship, and they still are, but age is also a factor. Young Americans, including young Republicans, are even more likely to say the United States needs to take action to at least try to slow the situation.

Many members of the public also feel a sense of urgency. A large majority think it will need to be addressed at least in the next few years, with half believing it needs to be addressed now.

Some feel we should fight climate change, and some also feel we 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 this way feel that they have a personal responsibility to do something.

Extreme weather and climate change

People who report experiencing extreme weather in their region in recent years – which covers half the country – are more likely than those who have not to believe that climate change is a major contributing factor to extreme weather conditions, and are more likely to see the problem as one that needs to be addressed immediately.

And even if people don’t experience extreme weather themselves, such events can cause concern. When people hear about Earth experiencing the hottest temperatures on record, more than half say it makes them more concerned about climate change. Those who do not see climate change as a driver of extreme weather events are less convinced by the idea, including those who do not believe in an increase in Earth’s temperature.

Young people and political divisions on climate change

Majorities of all age groups favor the United States taking action to combat climate change, but it’s people under 45 — many of whom say they learned about climate change at school. school – who are particularly likely to support the country’s action.

There have long been political divisions over tackling climate change, with Democrats expressing more concern than Republicans. These continue today, to a certain extent. Democrats are twice as likely as Republicans to say we need to tackle climate change now. And Democrats overwhelmingly support the United States taking action to reduce climate change, but Republicans are divided on that.

Divisions within the GOP on climate?

The divisions within the GOP base that we see are along age and ideological lines. Most younger Republicans – those under 45 – support the United States taking action to slow or stop climate change, while most older Republicans do not.

More moderate Republicans also view climate change as more urgent than more conservative ones.

And like the general public, Republicans who say they have experienced extreme weather in their area are more likely to think climate change needs to be addressed.

This CBS News/YouGov survey was conducted among a nationally representative sample of 2,230 adult U.S. residents surveyed between April 16 and 19, 2024. The sample was weighted based on gender, age, race and education based on the U.S. Census of the American Community and Current Demographic Survey, as well as past voting. The margin of error is ±2.7 points.

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