A new Pew Research Center survey finds some 36% of Americans are deeply concerned about the issue of global climate change. Additionally, two-in-ten Americans try to live out their concern for the environment “all the time.”
Climate-engaged
Everyday environmentalists
Those who care a great deal about the issue of climate change
Those who try to live in ways that protect the environment all of the time
36%
20%
Climate-
engaged
Everyday
environmentalists
Those who care a great
deal about the issue of
climate change
Those who try to live in
ways that protect the
environment all of the time
36%
20%
Climate-
engaged
Everyday
environmentalists
Those who care a
great deal about the
issue of climate
change
Those who try to live
in ways that protect
the environment all
of the time
36%
20%
Climate-
engaged
Everyday
environ-
mentalists
Those who care a
great deal about
the issue of
climate change
Those who try
to live in ways
that protect the
environment all
of the time
36%
20%
And while some Americans are both “climate engaged” and “everyday environmentalists,” each group has a distinctive profile.
Both
Climate-engaged
Everyday environmentalists
24%
8%
12%
Everyday
environmentalists
Climate-engaged
Both
24%
8%
12%
Everyday
environ-
mentalists
Climate-
engaged
Both
24%
8%
12%
Most climate-engaged Americans believe the Earth is warming due to human activity. By contrast, everyday environmentalists’ beliefs closely match those of the U.S. population as a whole.
76%
51
48
Climate- engaged
Everyday
environ-
mentalists
U.S. adults
76%
51
48
U.S. adults
Climate- engaged
Everyday
environ-
mentalists
76%
51
48
U.S.
adults
Climate-
engaged
Everyday
environ-
mentalists
Americans who care a great deal about climate change are predominantly Democrats or independents who lean toward the Democratic Party, while everyday environmentalists include a mix of Republicans and Democrats that aligns with the share in the overall population.
The climate-engaged also skew younger, while everyday environmentalists are disproportionately older.
Climate-engaged
Everyday
environmentalists
U.S. adults
63
44%
44
35%
30
26
21%
20
16
Millennial
Boomer
or older
Millennial
Boomer
or older
Millennial
Boomer
or older
Gen
X
Gen
X
Gen
X
Climate-
engaged
Everyday
environmentalists
U.S. adults
63
44%
44
35%
30
26
21%
20
16
Mill.
Gen
X
Boom.
or
older
Mill.
Gen
X
Boom.
or
older
Mill.
Gen
X
Boom.
or
older
Climate-
engaged
Everyday
environ-
mentalists
U.S.
adults
63
44
44
35%
30
26
21
20
16
Millennial
Gen X
Boomer or older
Millennial
Gen X
Boomer or older
Millennial
Gen X
Boomer or older
Both tend to have like-minded friends and family. About half (53%) of those who always try to live in ways that protect the environment all the time and 40% of those who care a great deal about climate change say that most of their close friends and family always try to help the environment. By comparison, 26% of all U.S. adults say the same.
36
Some
40%
45
53
Most
40%
26
Climate-
engaged
Everyday
environ-
mentalists
U.S.
adults
36
40%
Some
45
53
40%
Most
26
Climate-
engaged
Everyday
environ-
mentalists
U.S.
adults
36
40%
Some
45
53
40%
Most
26
Climate-
engaged
Everyday
environ-
mentalists
U.S.
adults
Despite these differences, both groups of Americans are equally likely as the general public to have spent time hiking, camping, hunting or fishing in the past year; they are also about equally likely to have spent time tending to plants in public parks or other public spaces. And while everyday environmentalists are modestly more likely to have participated in a park clean-up day, they are no more likely than the climate-engaged or other Americans to reduce and reuse at home by composting, having a rain barrel or growing their own vegetables.
Everyday environmentalists
Climate-engaged
U.S. adults
Taken a hike in a park or outdoor setting
56%
52%
50%
Tended a vegetable garden
36
32
34
Been hunting or fishing
19
19
21
Been camping overnight
18
14
16
Participated in a clean-up day
14
23
14
Tended public space planting
12
13
10
Climate-engaged
56%
Taken a hike in a park
or outdoor setting
Everyday environmentalists
52%
U.S. adults
50%
36
Tended a vegetable
garden
32
34
19
Been hunting or
fishing
19
21
18
Been camping
overnight
14
16
14
Participated in a
clean-up day
23
14
12
Tended public space
planting
13
10
Climate-engaged
Everyday environmentalists
U.S. adults
Taken a hike in a
park or outdoor
setting
56%
52%
50%
36
Tended a
vegetable garden
32
34
19
Been hunting or
fishing
19
21
18
Been camping
overnight
14
16
14
Participated in a
clean-up day
23
14
12
Tended public
space planting
13
10
Climate-engaged
Everyday
environmentalists
U.S. adults
Taken a hike in
a park or
outdoor setting
56%
52%
50%
36
Tended a
vegetable
garden
32
34
19
Been hunting
or fishing
19
21
18
Been camping
overnight
14
16
Participated
in a clean-up
day
14
23
14
12
Tended
public space
planting
13
10
Report: The Politics of Climate
