President Joe Biden has made addressing climate change a key issue in his 2020 campaign, but three years into his presidency, there is still a lack of awareness among Americans about what his administration has done on the issue. Even within the president’s own party and among those who consider climate change a very important issue, half have heard little or nothing about the administration’s actions. As a result, many of those who prioritize climate change feel that President Biden has done too little to address the issue.
Despite the lack of awareness, when presented with some of the Biden administration’s climate change policies, a majority of those who consider climate change important, including those who feel the administration has done too little, support these policies. This suggests that the issue may be more about the need for President Biden to effectively communicate his efforts rather than convincing his base of the substance of his policies. The majority of those who view climate change as very important support the country taking steps to slow or stop climate change and prioritize protecting the earth’s climate over energy production.
While the “climate constituency” would like to see President Biden do more on climate change, they still prefer his approach to climate change and energy policy over former President Donald Trump’s. However, the public at large remains divided on whose approach they agree with more, with more than a quarter choosing neither candidate. Those who prioritize climate change and support renewable energy sources align more with President Biden, while those who prioritize fossil fuel production lean towards Trump’s approach.
Looking ahead to the 2024 presidential candidates and climate change, there is skepticism among Americans about how much either candidate can do about the issue if elected in November. More believe that President Biden will slow the rate of climate change, while more believe Trump will increase it, and half do not think the election will make any difference in addressing climate change. Americans with a fatalistic view on climate change are more likely to believe that the election will not make a difference.
Overall, the survey conducted with a nationally representative sample of U.S. adult residents by CBS News/YouGov shows that there is a divide among Americans on the issue of climate change and the actions taken by the Biden administration. While those who prioritize climate change support the administration’s policies, there is still a lack of awareness about what has been done and skepticism about the impact of the 2024 presidential election on addressing climate change. privateKey takeaways from the survey include the importance of effective communication from the Biden administration on climate change policies and the need for continued efforts to address climate change from both political parties.
