Americans Concerned About Climate Change, But Worried About Cost of Green New Deal

Although Americans are worried about climate change, it varies by region and is a somewhat lower concern than air and water pollution. In a recent Gallup poll using the term “global warming,” 67 percent of the public in the West claim to be worried a great deal or fair amount about global warming, whereas 72 percent of people in the Northeast share the worry, and a somewhat less 62 percent in the Midwest and 61 percent in the South.

When asked in a series with other environmental problems, global warming ranks fourth after air pollution (80%); drinking water pollution (84%); and river, lake and reservoir pollution (85%).

Much of the variation surrounding global warming is explained by political differences. The issue has become politicized, with Democrats showing more concern and Republicans less.

Solutions proposed to the global warming are especially controversial. The Washington Post/Kaiser Family Foundation poll of July and August 2019 found that only 20 percent of the public had heard about one of the most discussed remedies – the Green New Deal. The more people heard about it, the less they liked it. Overall, 20 percent support it, 20 percent opposed it and 60 percent didn’t know enough to have an opinion. But, among the 20 percent of the public who said they had heard at least a “good amount” about it, nearly 60 percent opposed it.

The most attractive benefit offered by advocates is its socialist-like promise that the Green New Deal “guarantees jobs with good wages for all U.S. workers.” More than three-quarters of the public (78%) liked that statement. But only 30 percent like the Green New Deal when told it will “increase federal spending by trillions of dollars.” The Green New Deal is highly controversial and vulnerable to criticism of its cost.