Environment and Energy
Explore ͯÑÕÊÓƵ's research.
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Black Americans are more likely to worry about harmful pollution where they live. Racial differences are substantial in suburbs, towns and rural areas.
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Biden's job approval rating is 40%, while ratings of his handling of the economy, foreign affairs and the Middle East situation are below his overall approval.
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Three-fourths of Black Americans (76%) and 70% of Hispanic Americans say they personally worry "a great deal" about pollution of drinking water, compared with 48% of White Americans who respond this way.
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The 55% of Americans who favor using nuclear energy as a source of electricity is up four points since last year to its highest level since 2012.
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Americans' support for decreasing the use of fossil fuels to reduce gas emissions is steady at 58%; Democrats are more in favor than Republicans.
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Pollution of drinking water and of natural waterways remain the most worrying environmental problems of six measured by ͯÑÕÊÓƵ.
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Four percent of Americans report that they currently own an electric vehicle, and the public remains largely unconvinced that the use of EVs does a lot to help address climate change.
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President Biden remains underwater in his overall job approval rating and his ratings on the economy, foreign affairs, energy and the environment.
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After hitting a new low in July, President Joe Biden's job approval rating is up six points to 44%, mostly because of independents' higher approval.
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Americans remain evenly divided on nuclear energy, as they were in 2019, but this follows a period from 2004 to 2015 when majorities backed it. Support throughout has varied sharply by party.
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Americans widely favor a range of specific policies to address climate change. However, they are more divided when asked whether environmental protection or economic concerns should be given the higher priority.
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Sharply more Americans than a year ago worry a great deal about the availability and affordability of energy and describe the U.S. energy situation as very serious.
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Americans continue to express the most dire concerns about water pollution, out of six environmental threats.
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A slightly diminished 56% majority of Americans, compared with a year ago, think the U.S. government is doing too little to protect the environment, while 15% say it is doing too much and 29% think its actions are about right.
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Americans have maintained relatively high concern about global warming over the past six years, along with the belief that it is caused by human activity.
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ͯÑÕÊÓƵ will be releasing a series of articles throughout April concerning Americans' views on environmental topics.
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Increased proportions of Americans worry about the availability and affordability of energy, believe the energy situation in the U.S. is serious, and think there will be a critical energy shortage in the U.S.