American Climate Perspectives: Climate Change Concern Skyrockets In Response to Trump
While climate denial pervades the Trump administration, and climate change information is wiped off of official websites, American concern about climate change is skyrocketing. Nearly seven in ten Americans report they are personally concerned about climate change. Half of Americans report they are more concerned now that Trump is President.
The May 2017 American Climate Perspectives Survey conducted by ecoAmerica found half of Americans are more concerned about climate change since Trump’s election.
Since Trump has been elected, are you more, less, or the same concerned about climate change and the environment? 801 respondent(s), select one, % Same Concern vs. More vs. Less
Nearly 80% of Democrats report they are more concerned about climate change since the election; 53% of Independents feel similarly. An equal number of Republicans are more concerned (15.5%) as are less concerned.
But political affiliation is not the only determinant of climate concern. Women report a great deal more concern about climate change (75%) than do men (61%); nearly half (47%) of women reporting being very concerned (vs. 36% of men). Women also report a larger increase in climate concern (57%) since Trump has been elected (vs. 43% of men).
Only 7% of respondents reported they are less concerned about climate since Trump got elected, and these Americans are typically male (63%) over 60 years of age (33%) with annual income of $75K and over (33%).
Climate Concern by Gender
801 respondent(s). select one, % Total Concern
When looking at the overall concern about climate change, we see that more than twice as many Democrats are concerned about climate than Republicans.
How personally concerned are you about climate change
801 respondent(s). select one, % Total Concern vs. Very Concerned vs. Not Concerned at all
Methodology
ecoAmerica designed and fielded this survey. It was conducted online from April 7 – 13, 2017 using Survey Monkey. The nationally representative sample of 801 adults was drawn from an online panel and respondents were screened to be over the age of 18 residing in the United States. The margin of error for the sample is +/-3.5%. In interpreting survey results, all sample surveys are subject to possible sampling error; that is, the results of a survey may differ from those, which would be obtained if the entire population were interviewed. The size of the sampling error depends upon both the total number of respondents in the survey and the percentage distribution of responses to a particular question. For example, if 50% of respondents in a sample of 900 respondents answered, “Yes” to a particular question, we can be 95% confident that the true percentage will fall within 3.5 points, or from 46.5% to 53.5%.
Suggested Citation
Speiser, M., and Fery, P. (2017). ecoAmerica American Climate Perspectives: May 2017. Climate Change Concern Skyrockets In Response to Trump. ecoAmerica. Washington, D.C.
For more information contact Meighen Speiser, ecoAmerica Chief Engagement Officer at meighen@ecoAmerica.org