Environment and Energy

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.

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.

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.

Americans continue to express the most dire concerns about water pollution, out of six environmental threats.

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.

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.

Gallup will be releasing a series of articles throughout April concerning Americans' views on environmental topics.

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.

The American public wants more, rather than less, federal government environmental regulation.