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How U.S. Voters Feel about Climate Change and What It Means for the 2024 Election

A deep dive into American voters’ beliefs, priorities, and political divides on climate change heading into the 2024 election.

By Medha deb

Created on Sep 26, 2025

A deep dive into American voters’ beliefs, priorities, and political divides on climate change heading into the 2024 election.

Climate change is no longer a peripheral issue in American politics. With each election cycle, global warming and environmental action have taken on greater significance for both the electorate and policymakers. As the 2024 U.S. presidential election approaches, surveys reveal not only changing attitudes towards climate change among voters but also important divisions and common ground across the political spectrum. This in-depth analysis examines how climate change features in voters’ priorities, which demographic groups care most, and what these divisions may mean for the election outcome.

Understanding the Climate Change Electorate

The American public is far from unified in its concern over climate change and the urgency with which it wants action. However, broad patterns emerge when examining recent survey data. An influential subset of Americans, known as pro-climate voters, is particularly engaged and likely to exert an outsized influence on electoral outcomes.

Who Are Pro-Climate Voters?

According to recent surveys, 37% of registered U.S. voters say that global warming is “very important” to their vote and prefer candidates who support climate action. This group is termed “pro-climate voters.” Notably, an additional 25% of voters prefer a candidate who supports action on global warming, even if it isn’t their top issue. This means that over 60% of voters express some pro-climate preference, but only about one-third are highly motivated by this issue in the voting booth.

Pro-climate voters are more likely to be Liberal Democrats (70%), urban residents (47%), college-educated (45%), or Hispanic/Latino (43%).
Almost no Americans say climate change is very important to them and simultaneously prefer a candidate who opposes action on global warming.

This distinction between those who passively support climate action and those for whom it’s pivotal is key to understanding electoral dynamics.

How Many Voters Prioritize Climate Change?

The number of Americans for whom climate change is a defining issue is substantial. With more than 161 million registered voters in the U.S., nearly 60 million pro-climate voters could cast ballots in 2024. Their high turnout potential means they could be decisive in close races, especially given that 89% report they are very likely to vote in the presidential election — a slightly higher rate than other voters.

Climate Change in the Hierarchy of Voters’ Issues

Despite growing concern, climate change is often seen as less urgent than other national priorities. Compared to economic growth, healthcare, and crime, environmental action still lags in issue salience for much of the electorate.

How Does Climate Change Rank Among National Priorities?

A recent Pew Research Center survey found that only 37% of Americans identify climate change as a top priority for the president and Congress — placing it 17th out of 21 national issues. Another 34% say it is important but lower on the list, reinforcing the sense that the stakes are high but not always viewed as immediate. The only issues rating lower on the list were strengthening morality and improving transportation infrastructure.

National Issue	% Saying Top Priority
Strengthening the Economy	75%
Reducing Healthcare Costs	60%
Climate Change	37%
Improving Transportation	25%

Younger generations and Democrats place a higher priority on climate change than older Americans and Republicans, illustrating deep political and generational divides.

Party, Age, and the Climate Divide

Attitudes on climate change among U.S. voters are sharply polarized along political and generational lines.

Party Identity and Climate Concern

78% of Democrats say climate change is a major threat to the country’s well-being, up from 58% a decade ago.
Only 23% of Republicans see climate change as a major threat, with little change over the last ten years.
Nine out of ten Democrats, including Independents who lean Democrat, support prioritizing renewable energy development.
Only 42% of Republicans and right-leaning Independents agree, with the rest continuing to prioritize oil, gas, and coal.

Generational Changes within Political Parties

Two-thirds of Republicans under 30 (67%) prioritize developing alternative energy sources.
In contrast, 75% of Republicans age 65+ support continued fossil fuel expansion.
Younger Republicans and those with more moderate or liberal ideologies are more likely to accept that climate change is a serious issue and that human activity contributes to it.

These patterns suggest that, over time, the partisan divide within the GOP may soften as younger members bring more pro-environment views to the fore.

Do Americans Want Climate Action?

The data show that, even though climate change ranks lower than some other issues, most Americans support action — especially around renewable energy and participation in international efforts.

Two-thirds of U.S. adults say the country should prioritize developing renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.
69% support the U.S. becoming carbon neutral by 2050.
About 74% of Americans favor U.S. participation in international agreements to reduce the effects of climate change.
Over 92% of surveyed voters support expanding Natural Climate Solutions (including forest management, wetland restoration, and regenerative agriculture) through laws and public funding.

The Inflation Reduction Act: A Test Case in Climate Policy

The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), passed in 2022, was a major legislative step for climate action in the U.S. Support is especially strong among pro-climate voters (97%), though even among other voters, 61% approve of the law after learning about it — suggesting that specific, tangible policies can garner bipartisan assent after basic education campaigns. However, only about half of pro-climate voters had heard of the IRA before reading a short description in the survey, highlighting an information gap.

Why Don’t More Americans Make Climate Their Top Priority?

Despite increasing concern and a growing number of extreme weather events linked to climate change, many Americans do not rank this issue above health, inflation, or national security.

A significant share of the electorate views climate change as a long-term threat rather than an immediate crisis.
Personal experience plays a role: Democrats are more likely than Republicans to report experiencing extreme weather (floods, wildfires, heatwaves, droughts) and to connect these events to climate change.
Political messaging and misinformation continue to shape public perceptions, especially about who is responsible for climate change and how urgent the risk is.
Other pressing concerns, such as inflation, crime, and healthcare, crowd climate action out of the top tier for many voters.

Bipartisan Opportunities for Climate Action

While partisanship on climate may seem intractable, some climate initiatives enjoy broad support. Natural Climate Solutions — such as forest conservation, wetland rehabilitation, and improving soil health on farms — resonate across party, age, and regional identities.

92% of voters support expanding these solutions through public funding.
Three reasons proved highly motivating to voters of all types:

Extra benefits: These approaches support wildlife habitat, clean water, storm protection, and agriculture.
Cost savings & safety: Restoring nature reduces disaster impacts from fires, floods, and extreme weather, saving lives and money.
Practical implementation: Many such strategies enjoy local backing and visible results, fostering political consensus even in divided communities.

America in the Global Context

Globally, climate concern often outpaces that found in the U.S. For example, 81% of French adults and 73% of Germans see climate change as a major threat, compared to about half of Americans. The U.S., as the world’s second-largest emitter — responsible for roughly 13.5% of global carbon dioxide — faces global and domestic calls to increase its ambition and lead by example on climate policy.

The 2024 Presidential Election: Why Climate Voters Matter

With projections indicating another close presidential race, the influence of pro-climate voters could be immense:

They represent nearly 60 million Americans and are highly likely to turn out to vote.
They are concentrated in cities, among young people, college graduates, and communities of color — key swing demographics in many close races.
Their overwhelming support for tangible policies, like the Inflation Reduction Act and Natural Climate Solutions, suggests climate policy could be a winning message for candidates able to reach them.
However, the gap between those who support climate action in theory and those for whom it’s a decisive ballot issue must be bridged to accelerate change.

Converting Support into Action

While passive support for climate initiatives is high, actual engagement remains lower. Experts stress the importance of turning supporters into climate champions through focused education, visibility of local climate projects, and emphasizing the co-benefits of climate policies (e.g., jobs, clean air, rural investment).

Outreach should underscore that climate policies are not just about distant risks, but offer immediate, tangible improvements in health, community safety, and economic growth.
Engagement campaigns, particularly among younger and urban voters, can help convert majorities from general support to motivated, active advocates at the polls.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: What percentage of U.S. voters consider climate change to be very important for their vote?

A: Approximately 37% of registered voters say that climate change is very important in deciding who to vote for, and they want candidates who support climate action.

Q: How do Democrats and Republicans differ on climate change?

A: Democrats are significantly more likely to see climate change as a major threat and to prioritize renewable energy initiatives, while Republicans are more divided — with younger, moderate Republicans showing more concern for climate action than their older, more conservative peers.

Q: Do Americans support international cooperation on climate change?

A: Yes, about three-quarters (74%) of Americans support U.S. participation in international efforts to address climate change.

Q: What is the Inflation Reduction Act, and do voters support it?

A: The Inflation Reduction Act is a federal law containing major investments in renewable energy and climate solutions. Among pro-climate voters, support is nearly universal; even among other voters, support rises to 61% after learning about the law’s contents.

Q: What are Natural Climate Solutions, and do they attract bipartisan support?

A: Natural Climate Solutions refer to measures like forest restoration, wetland management, and regenerative agriculture. These enjoy support from 92% of voters, with strong backing across political parties and demographic groups due to the multiple benefits for people and the environment.

References: 1. Yale Climate Communications; 2. Pew Research Center; 3. US Nature4Climate

References

Author

medha deb

Medha Deb is an editor with a master's degree in Applied Linguistics from the University of Hyderabad. She believes that her qualification has helped her develop a deep understanding of language and its application in various contexts.

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