The divided states of America: survey finds stark contrast in Republican and Democrat climate views

Since taking office, President Donald Trump has signed a series of executive orders, including the pivotal decision to withdraw from the Paris Agreement. This move represents a strong rejection of climate action, reflecting the stark divide between Republicans and Democrats on climate change, as highlighted by Trellis data partner GlobeScan’s latest public opinion research. Here are some key findings:

• Democratic voters rate climate change as the most serious global issue among a range of environmental, economic and societal challenges. Republican voters place it at the bottom.
• Seven in 10 Democrats (71 percent) consider climate change a “very serious” issue, compared to just 31 percent of Republicans.
• More than four in 10 Democrats feel greatly personally affected by the shifting climate. 
• Republicans’ greatest concerns lie with war and conflict followed by the state of the global economy.
• Hunger and malnutrition rank third for both groups, although Democrats are more likely to view these as “very serious” problems. 
• Social issues such as gender inequality and unfair treatment of workers are ranked relatively low by both parties, but Democrats express significantly more concern than Republicans.

What this means

These results highlight the deep divisions within the American public. Republican voters’ lack of concern about climate change fuels their support for dismantling environmental policies, while the nearly three-quarters of Democratic voters who view climate change as a serious issue will demand strong action to address the crisis. 

With the federal government’s retreat from climate leadership, pressure will increasingly fall on businesses, states, and city governments to respond, particularly in the wake of disasters such as the Los Angeles wildfires.

Despite these stark differences, there is common ground on the seriousness of hunger and malnutrition. Organizations, particularly in the food and beverage sector, may find opportunities to leverage this shared concern by aligning their sustainability agendas with food security and nutrition. By focusing on areas of mutual interest, it may be possible to build broader support for sustainability initiatives.

Based on a representative online survey of over 30,000 people across 31 countries and territories, GlobeScan’s Radar draws upon two decades of polling public opinion to provide unique insights into people’s perspectives on societal actors and the issues affecting them.