Climate, Energy & Environment

While residential solar power generates just a fraction of the country’s overall electricity, it has continued to grow rapidly.

Despite the many depressing stories dominating the international news cycle, there is also a note of positivity among survey respondents in views of the UN, the benefits of international cooperation for solving problems and the importance of common values for bringing nations together.

Overall, around four-in-ten Americans say their local community has experienced severe weather in the past year, a May survey found.

Overall, two-thirds of Americans support providing incentives to increase the use of electric and hybrid vehicles.

Several climate policies receive bipartisan support, despite Republicans and Democrats differing on the overall approach.

Yet renewable sources, like wind and solar, remain Americans’ overall priority for domestic production.

Nearly all Democrats (92%) support a U.S. role in international efforts to reduce climate change impacts, as do 53% of Republicans.

Majorities of Americans say the United States should prioritize the development of renewable energy sources and take steps toward the country becoming carbon neutral by the year 2050. But just 31% want to phase out fossil fuels completely, and many foresee unexpected problems in a major transition to renewable energy.

As 2021 draws to a close, here are some of Pew Research Center’s most striking research findings from the past year.

Pew Research Center’s political typology sorts Americans into cohesive, like-minded groups based on their values, beliefs, and views about politics and the political system. Use this tool to compare the groups on some key topics and their demographics.