Story Highlights
- More than four out of 10 Americans worry “a lot” about the environment
- Increased concern since 2016 fuelled by Democrats and Independents
- The rating of environmental conditions has gotten slightly worse
WASHINGTON D.C. — The U.S. public is concerned about the environment for the seventh year in a row. 44% of Americans are worried “a great deal”. The remainder are evenly split between those who worry “a lot” (27%), and those who worry “only a little” (28%).
This current surge in public concern about the environment contrasts to the less concerned public in the first 15-years after Gallup began tracking this sentiment in 2001. Between 2001 and 2015, nearly a third (33%) of Americans reported that they were concerned about the environment. The figure exceeded 40% twice in 2001, 2007 and 2007.
Line graph. Annual trend in American concern about the environment from 2001 to 2022. From 2001 to 2015 the percentage of people who were worried “a lot” was low. It ranged between 31% to 43% with only two readings exceeding 40%. It has varied from 42% to 47% over the past six years, with all readings above 40 percent, including the most recent, at 44%.
These results are based on Gallup’s March 1-18 Environment survey. Since 2001, the annual survey is conducted each March.
Worry Driven by Democrats & Independents
Democrats are much more likely to have substantial concern for the environment than Republicans, 56% to 24%, in keeping with their party’s strong focus on environmental problems, including global warming. However, independents (50%) say they worry a lot about environment, which is a departure from the traditional pattern of political independence’s views being roughly equal to Democrats’. Republicans are the exception. While this wasn’t always true, since 2016, independents have tended to be closer to Democrats’ views.
In 2015, Democrats and independents began to worry more about the environment. Republicans have been largely unaffected.
Democrats’ concern was high during Donald Trump’s presidency. This has been slightly lessened since President Joe Biden assumed office in 2021. However it is still higher that it was during most Barack Obama’s presidencies, 2009 to 2016. In the meantime, concern among independents reached its peak in 2019 and has remained close to that level ever since.
Line graph. Trend in annual concern about the environment from 2001 to 2022. Concern has been generally highest among Democrats and lowest among Republicans. Independents are in the middle, but closer to Democrats in their views. The concern among Republicans has remained relatively stable over this time, with a range of 13% to 30%. Between 2001 and 2014, concern among Democrats and Independents was steady or slightly lower. Then it rose between 2014 and 2015. The concern level among Democrats has risen to 56% from 69% in 2020. Concern among independents is at an all-time high at 50%
More People Call the Conditions “Poor”, While the Environmental Outlook Has Varied
The recent rise of those who describe the environment as “poor” is another indicator of Americans’ growing concern about environmental quality. This has increased from 9% in 2015, to 18% today.
The percentage of people describing the environment as “excellent” and “good” has decreased from 50% to 39% over the same time, while the percentage describing it as “only fair” has remained the same.
Line graph. Annual trend in Americans’ assessment of the current environment quality from 2001 to 2022. After being below 12% in most years, the percentage rating conditions poor rose from 15% to 15% in 2018 and to 18% in 2019. The percentage rating it excellent/good has dropped from 50% to 39% in 2015, while it was still at 50% today. It currently has 43%.
When asked about the direction of the environment, Americans are more likely to perceive it as getting worse than it is getting better. However, this pessimism can vary depending on beliefs about federal policies.
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The public had a particularly poor environmental forecast between 2005 and 2008, which coincides with the last few years under Republican George W. Bush. Between 63%-68% said the environment was getting worse between 2005 and 2008.
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In 2010, a year after Barack Obama’s election, attitudes improved and the “getting worse” view fell to 48%. This was just below the 41% that predicted conditions were improving and held steady until 2016.
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Trump’s presidency saw pessimism grow, reaching 64% in 2019. It declined to 52% at the beginning of Biden’s term but rose slightly to 59% this year.
Line graph. Trend in Americans’ outlook on the environment from 2001 to 2022. It has varied in the percentage of people who say it is getting worse. It first rose to 68% from 57% in 2000, and then to 57% again in 2001. It dropped to 51% in 2009, and remained at this lower level until 2016. It fell to 51% in 2009, and remained at that level until 2016. It dropped to 52% in 2021, and is now back at 59% in 2022.
This trend can be analyzed by party. It is clear that most of these changes reflect a waxing or waning pessimism regarding the environment among Democrats, which corresponds with the political context. They are more likely to believe that the environment is getting worse when a Republican is elected than when a Democrat is.
This year’s increase in pessimism can be attributed to more Republicans than independents saying conditions are getting worse, while Democrats have maintained their views.
Water Pollution Can Lead to Environmental Concerns
Gallup’s top environmental concerns are pollution of drinking waters and pollution of natural watersways. The majority of respondents said they worry a lot about each. This includes more than six out of ten Democrats, 58% independents, and four out of ten Republicans.
Global warming is a major concern for Democrats (67%), while it ranks last among Republicans and independents (last) Air pollution and the loss or destruction of tropical rain forests rank among the top concerns for all groups.
Americans are concerned about specific environmental problems
% Are You Worried About a Great Deal?
| U.S. adults | Democrats | Independents | Republicans | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| % | % | % | % | |
| Pollution of drinking water | 57 | 68 | 58 | 42 |
| Pollution of rivers and lakes | 54 | 63 | 58 | 37 |
| The disappearance of tropical rain forests | 46 | 57 | 49 | 28 |
| Air pollution | 45 | 59 | 47 | 24 |
| Extinction of animal and plant species | 45 | 55 | 47 | 31 |
| Global warming or climate change | 43 | 67 | 44 | 13 |
| Gallup, March 1-18th, 2022 | ||||
Implications
Americans are more concerned about the environment today than they were before Trump became president. It is unclear if Trump’s presidency caused this increase in concern, or if it was simply due to worsening news coverage about environmental issues. But the signal is clear. While Democrats’ concern has decreased a bit since Biden was elected, it is still higher than it was before Trump.
The latest United Nations alarm about global warming and the need for reducing carbon emissions will only increase Democrats’ concern for the environment. Biden’s mixed track record in implementing his environmental agenda has been a reason why only seven out of 10 Democrats approve of him. His 72% approval rating for the environment from Democrats was nearly equal to his 73% approval rate from Democrats on energy. This was his party’s worst assessment of him in March.
Biden has included billions of dollars in his 2023 federal spending proposal for climate change measures. To earn full credit from fellow Democrats who care deeply on the issue, this spending must be approved.
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