{"id":7765,"date":"2024-03-01T10:03:50","date_gmt":"2024-03-01T15:03:50","guid":{"rendered":""},"modified":"2025-04-18T12:18:13","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T16:18:13","slug":"how-republicans-view-climate-change-and-energy-issues","status":"publish","type":"short-read","link":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/03\/01\/how-republicans-view-climate-change-and-energy-issues\/","title":{"rendered":"How Republicans view climate change and energy issues"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-640-wide\"><img decoding=\"async\" sizes=\"(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png?w=640\" alt=\"Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol following the passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act on March 30, 2023. (Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)\" class=\"wp-image-452218\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol following the passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act on March 30, 2023. (Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republican leaders have staked out different positions on climate and energy issues. Some, including former President Donald Trump, have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forbes.com\/sites\/markjoyella\/2022\/03\/21\/on-fox-donald-trump-calls-climate-change-a-hoax-in-the-1920s-they-were-talking-about-global-freezing\/?sh=5b8296253787\">called climate change a \u201choax\u201d<\/a> and downplayed the link between human activity and a warming planet. Others, including some congressional Republicans, have proposed policies to address climate change, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.politico.com\/news\/2023\/12\/11\/trump-republicans-cop28-dubai-climate-agenda-00131055\">supporting more nuclear power and the development of carbon capture technology<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So what do Americans who identify as Republicans or lean toward the GOP think about climate and energy issues? Here are six facts about their views, drawn from Pew Research Center surveys.<\/p>\n\n\n<div style=\"border-width:1px;padding-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);padding-left:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-right:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30);padding-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);--block-gap: inherit\" class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible has-background has-ui-beige-very-light-background-color has-border-color has-ui-beige-dark-border-color\" id=\"how-we-did-this\" data-wp-interactive=\"{&quot;namespace&quot;:&quot;prc-block\\\/collapsible&quot;}\" data-wp-context=\"{&quot;collapsibleId&quot;:&quot;how-we-did-this&quot;,&quot;isOpen&quot;:false}\" data-wp-class--is-open=\"context.isOpen\" data-wp-init--scroll-into-view=\"callbacks.onInitScrollIntoView\"><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__title\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.onClick\"><div>How we did this<\/div><button class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__icon\"><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"context.isOpen\"><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-plus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-plus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><span data-wp-bind--hidden=\"!context.isOpen\" hidden><i class=\"icon icon-library__light icon__circle-minus\"><svg style=\"width: 1em; height: 1em;\"><use xlink:href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/plugins\/prc-icon-library\/build\/icons\/sprites\/light.svg#circle-minus\"><\/use><\/svg><\/i><\/span><\/button><\/div><div class=\"wp-block-prc-block-collapsible__content\">\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Pew Research Center published this analysis as part of its ongoing work to understand attitudes about climate change and energy issues. This analysis draws on several Center surveys. More information about these surveys and their methodologies, including the sample sizes and field dates, can be found by following the links in the text.<\/p>\n\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-has-big-number wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Few Republicans see climate change as a top priority for the country. <\/strong>Just 12% of Republicans and Republican leaners say dealing with climate change should be a top priority for the president and Congress, <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/politics\/2024\/02\/29\/americans-top-policy-priority-for-2024-strengthening-the-economy\/\">according to a January 2024 survey<\/a>. For Republicans, dealing with climate change ranks last among the 20 issues included in the survey.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-8302\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/03\/01\/how-republicans-view-climate-change-and-energy-issues\/sr_24-03-01_republicans-climate_1-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f1f1f1\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_1.png?resize=480,649 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_1.png?resize=782,1058 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_1.png?resize=840,1136 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"866\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_1.png?w=640\" alt=\"A dot plot showing that Republicans rank climate change at the bottom of their priorities for the president and Congress in 2024.\" class=\"wp-image-8302 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f1f1f1; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Consistent with this view, Republicans express limited concern about how climate change may impact the United States. <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/global\/2022\/08\/31\/climate-change-remains-top-global-threat-across-19-country-survey\/\">In a spring 2022 survey<\/a>, only 23% saw climate change as a major threat to the country\u2019s well-being.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">By contrast, 59% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents say climate change should be a top priority for the president and Congress. An even larger majority (78%) views it as a major threat to the U.S. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Partisan differences over climate change tend to be most pronounced when it comes to the perceived importance of the issue. There\u2019s a bit more common ground when it comes to some specific policy proposals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-has-big-number wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Despite expressing little concern about the issue generally, Republicans support some proposals to address climate change. <\/strong>As part of efforts to reduce the effects of climate change, majorities of Republicans support requiring oil and gas companies to seal methane gas leaks from oil wells (77%) and favor providing a tax credit to businesses to develop carbon capture technologies (67%), according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/science\/2023\/06\/28\/majorities-of-americans-prioritize-renewable-energy-back-steps-to-address-climate-change\/\">spring 2023 survey<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-8304\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/03\/01\/how-republicans-view-climate-change-and-energy-issues\/sr_24-03-01_republicans-climate_2-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"f0f0f0\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_2.png?resize=480,677 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_2.png?resize=782,1102 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_2.png?resize=840,1184 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"902\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_2.png?w=640\" alt=\"A dot plot that shows a majority of Republicans favor providing a tax credit to businesses for developing carbon capture technology.\" class=\"wp-image-8304 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #f0f0f0; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">More broadly, 54% of Republicans say they strongly or somewhat support the U.S. participating in international efforts to help reduce the effects of global climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, some more aggressive proposals to address climate change are unpopular among Republicans. Only 37% of Republicans favor requiring power plants to eliminate all carbon emissions by 2040 and even fewer (23%) support requiring most new buildings to run only on electricity with no gas lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republicans tend to emphasize economic factors when considering climate policies. For example, 69% say a very important consideration for them in any climate policy proposal is <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/science\/2023\/06\/28\/2-how-americans-see-bidens-climate-policies\/#protecting-the-environment-and-low-consumer-costs-are-important-considerations-for-the-public-in-climate-proposals\">keeping consumer costs low<\/a>, and 61% say the same about increasing job and economic growth. A smaller share (48%) says a very important consideration is protecting the environment for future generations; by comparison, this ranks as the top consideration for Democrats.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-has-big-number wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Republicans support expanding fossil fuel <em>and <\/em>renewable energy sources.<\/strong> Burning fossil fuels for energy is the source of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.eia.gov\/energyexplained\/energy-and-the-environment\/where-greenhouse-gases-come-from.php\">most U.S. greenhouse gas emissions<\/a>. Climate scientists have urged countries to rapidly reduce their reliance on fossil fuel energy while transitioning to renewable sources to help limit the rise in Earth\u2019s temperature.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Among Republicans, large shares back <em>increasing<\/em> the production of fossil fuel sources: 73% favor more offshore oil and gas drilling and 68% favor more hydraulic fracturing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-8305\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/03\/01\/how-republicans-view-climate-change-and-energy-issues\/sr_24-03-01_republicans-climate_3-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"dcdfde\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"620\" height=\"628\"  sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_3.png?resize=480,486 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_3.png?resize=620,628 620w\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_3.png?w=620\" alt=\"A diverging bar chart showing that Republicans favor more offshore oil and gas drilling \u2013 and more solar power.\" class=\"wp-image-8305 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #dcdfde; width:310px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">At the same time, comparable shares of Republicans support renewable energy production, including more solar power farms (70%) and more wind power (60%). In addition, two-thirds said they favor building more nuclear power plants, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/science\/2023\/06\/28\/what-americans-think-about-an-energy-transition-from-fossil-fuels-to-renewables\/#republican-support-for-increasing-wind-and-solar-power-while-still-a-majority-continues-to-edge-downward\">June 2023 survey<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, when placed in competition with each other, Republicans prioritize fossil fuels over renewable energy sources. By a 58% to 42% margin, Republicans say expanding production from fossil fuel sources like oil and gas is a greater priority for the country than expanding renewable sources like wind and solar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">An overwhelming majority of Republicans (87%) say fossil fuels should continue to be part of the U.S. energy picture, rather than phasing them out entirely in favor of renewable sources. Looking ahead, 57% of Republicans believe the U.S. should <em>never<\/em> stop using oil, coal and natural gas.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-has-big-number wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Republicans are concerned about a transition to renewable energy in the U.S. <\/strong>One of the Biden administration\u2019s top priorities is to shift the U.S. toward more renewable energy, with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.whitehouse.gov\/briefing-room\/statements-releases\/2023\/04\/20\/fact-sheet-president-biden-to-catalyze-global-climate-action-through-the-major-economies-forum-on-energy-and-climate\">a goal of reaching net-zero emissions by 2050<\/a>. Republicans express broad concern about such a shift: 87% say a transition away from fossil fuels and toward renewable energy sources would be very or somewhat likely to <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/science\/2023\/06\/28\/what-americans-think-about-an-energy-transition-from-fossil-fuels-to-renewables\/#public-expectations-on-how-a-renewable-energy-transition-would-impact-the-country\">lead to unexpected problems for the country<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-8306\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/03\/01\/how-republicans-view-climate-change-and-energy-issues\/sr_24-03-01_republicans-climate_4-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ebecec\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_4.png?resize=480,699 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_4.png?resize=782,1139 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_4.png?resize=840,1224 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"933\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_4.png?w=640\" alt=\"A bar chart showing that two-thirds of Republicans say a potential energy transition would increase prices for everyday goods.\" class=\"wp-image-8306 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ebecec; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Specifically, Republicans worry that a renewable energy transition would increase prices and hurt the reliability of the electrical grid.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">About two-thirds (66%) say prices for everyday goods would get worse if the U.S. greatly reduced fossil fuel energy production while increasing production from renewable sources. About the same share (65%) say this transition would increase home heating and cooling costs. And 59% expect the reliability of the electrical grid would get worse in a major shift toward renewable energy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">When it comes to transportation, Republicans are deeply skeptical about <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/science\/2023\/06\/28\/what-americans-think-about-an-energy-transition-from-fossil-fuels-to-renewables\/#majority-of-americans-continue-to-oppose-phasing-out-gasoline-cars-and-trucks-by-2035\">a shift from gasoline vehicles to electric vehicles<\/a>. A large majority (84%) oppose phasing out the production of gas cars and trucks by 2035. And only 20% say they\u2019d seriously consider an EV the next time they purchase a vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Republican doubts about renewable energy are more pronounced today than they were at the start of the decade. Much of this change occurred between 2020 and 2021, when President Joe Biden succeeded President Donald Trump in the White House. In 2020, for instance, 65% of Republicans prioritized the production of renewable energy over fossil fuels. That share <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/science\/2021\/05\/26\/climate-energy-and-environmental-policy\/#majority-of-americans-prioritize-developing-alternative-energy-sources-but-only-a-third-would-phase-out-all-fossil-fuels\">fell to 47% in 2021<\/a>, shortly after Biden took office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the same period, there were corresponding increases in GOP support for specific fossil fuel sources, like offshore oil and gas drilling. These opinion changes have largely persisted \u2013 or in some cases grown \u2013 over the last three years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-has-big-number wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>There are considerable age differences within the GOP in views of fossil fuels. <\/strong>Younger Republicans stand out from their older GOP counterparts on some climate and energy issues. For instance, a large majority of Republicans ages 18 to 29 (79%) say human activity, such as the burning of fossil fuels, contributes at least some to climate change \u2013 including 35% who think human activity contributes a great deal. A much smaller share of Republicans ages 50 and older (47%) say human activity contributes a great deal or some to climate change.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-8309\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/03\/01\/how-republicans-view-climate-change-and-energy-issues\/sr_24-03-01_republicans-climate_5-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"edecec\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_5.png?resize=480,466 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_5.png?resize=782,760 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_5.png?resize=840,816 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"622\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_5.png?w=640\" alt=\"A dot plot showing that younger Republicans far more likely than older ones to say human activity contributes to climate change.\" class=\"wp-image-8309 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #edecec; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Younger Republicans are also far less supportive than their older counterparts of using more fossil fuel sources for energy. For example, half of Republicans ages 18 to 29 favor more offshore oil and gas drilling, compared with 87% of Republicans ages 65 and older.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Two-thirds of Republicans ages 18 to 29 also back prioritizing the development of renewable sources like wind and solar over expanding fossil fuels. The oldest Republicans take the opposite view: By a margin of 75% to 24%, Republicans ages 65 and older give priority to expanding the production of oil, coal and natural gas over renewable sources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"is-style-has-big-number wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Relatively small shares of Republicans say climate change and extreme weather are having a significant impact on their own communities.<\/strong> A minority of Republicans (36%) say climate change is affecting their own community a great deal or some, according to a <a href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2023\/08\/09\/what-the-data-says-about-americans-views-of-climate-change\/\">March 2023 survey<\/a>. By contrast, 85% of Democrats believe it is affecting their local community at least some.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignright size-640-wide is-resized\"><a rel=\"attachment wp-att-8310\" href=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/03\/01\/how-republicans-view-climate-change-and-energy-issues\/sr_24-03-01_republicans-climate_6-png\/\"><img data-dominant-color=\"ebebec\" data-has-transparency=\"false\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\"  srcset=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_6.png?resize=480,777 480w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_6.png?resize=782,1266 782w, https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_6.png?resize=840,1360 840w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 480px) 480px, (max-width: 782px) 782px, 640px\" height=\"1036\" width=\"640\" src=\"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_6.png?w=640\" alt=\"A chart that shows a majority of Republicans who report extreme weather experiences in their community say climate change has contributed to these events.\" class=\"wp-image-8310 not-transparent\" style=\"--dominant-color: #ebebec; width:420px\" \/><\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Perceptions of extreme weather differ by party as well. Republicans are less likely than Democrats to report that their local community has experienced at least one of five forms of extreme weather \u2013 including droughts, intense storms and wildfires \u2013 in the last year (58% vs. 79%). These partisan differences hold even when looking at Republicans and Democrats who live in the same region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Studies have found that extreme weather events, such as intense storms, are expected to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.epa.gov\/climate-indicators\/weather-climate\">become more frequent and intense with climate change<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Still, among Republicans who report extreme weather impacts in their community (a group that tends to be younger and more ideologically moderate), most tie these events to climate change to some extent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">For example, 76% of Republicans who say their community has experienced long periods of unusually hot weather believe climate change has contributed at least a little \u2013 including 34% who say it has contributed a lot.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Overwhelming shares of Democrats who report experiencing extreme weather draw a connection to climate change, with most saying climate change contributed a lot to these events, rather than just a little.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Just 12% of Republicans and Republican leaners say dealing with climate change should be a top priority for the president and Congress.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":658,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"sub_headline":"","sub_title":"","_prc_public_revisions":[],"_ppp_expiration_hours":0,"_ppp_enabled":false,"ai_generated_summary":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"2024-03-01T15:04:06Z","apple_news_api_id":"5180e646-f1bc-4479-ad96-1fc215fb2589","apple_news_api_modified_at":"2024-03-01T15:04:40Z","apple_news_api_revision":"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA==","apple_news_api_share_url":"https:\/\/apple.news\/AUYDmRvG8RHmtlh_CFfsliQ","apple_news_cover_media_provider":"image","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_cover_video_id":0,"apple_news_cover_video_url":"","apple_news_cover_embedwebvideo_url":"","apple_news_is_hidden":"","apple_news_is_paid":"","apple_news_is_preview":"","apple_news_is_sponsored":"","apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"relatedPosts":[],"_prc_fork_parent":0,"_prc_fork_status":"","_prc_active_fork":0,"datacite_doi":"","datacite_doi_citation":"","_prc_seo_qr_attachment_id":0,"spoken_article_player_enabled":true,"displayBylines":true,"footnotes":"","prc_watchers":[]},"categories":[264,270,418,2428],"bylines":[957,966],"collection":[],"datasets":[],"_post_visibility":[],"formats":[467],"_fund_pool":[],"languages":[],"regions-countries":[515],"research-teams":[518],"workflow-status":[],"class_list":["post-7765","short-read","type-short-read","status-publish","hentry","category-climate-energy-environment","category-energy","category-political-polarization","category-transportation","bylines-alec-tyson","bylines-brian-kennedy","formats-short-read","regions-countries-united-states","research-teams-science"],"label":"Short Read","post_parent":0,"word_count":1455,"canonical_url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/short-reads\/2024\/03\/01\/how-republicans-view-climate-change-and-energy-issues\/","art_direction":{"A1":{"id":8311,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png?w=564&h=317&crop=1","width":564,"height":317,"caption":"Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol following the passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act on March 30, 2023. (Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A2":{"id":8311,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"caption":"Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol following the passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act on March 30, 2023. (Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A3":{"id":8311,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png?w=194&h=110&crop=1","width":194,"height":110,"caption":"Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol following the passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act on March 30, 2023. (Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"A4":{"id":8311,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png?w=268&h=151&crop=1","width":268,"height":151,"caption":"Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol following the passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act on March 30, 2023. (Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"XL":{"id":8311,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png?w=720&h=405&crop=1","width":720,"height":405,"caption":"Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol following the passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act on March 30, 2023. (Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)","chartArt":false},"social":{"id":8311,"rawUrl":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png","url":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/20\/2024\/02\/SR_24.03.01_republicans-climate_feature.png?w=1128&h=628&crop=1","width":1128,"height":628,"caption":"Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers, chair of the House Energy and Commerce Committee, speaks at a news conference at the U.S. Capitol following the passage of the Lower Energy Costs Act on March 30, 2023. (Tom Williams\/CQ-Roll Call, Inc. via Getty Images)","chartArt":false}},"_embeds":[],"watchers":[],"table_of_contents":[],"datacite_doi":"","prc_seo_data":{"title":"Republicans\u2019 views of climate change, energy issues","description":"Just 12% of Republicans and Republican leaners say dealing with climate change should be a top priority for the president and Congress.","og_title":"How Republicans view climate change and energy issues","og_description":"Just 12% of Republicans and Republican leaners say dealing with climate change should be a top priority for the president and Congress.","schema_type":"Article","noindex":false,"canonical_url":"","primary_terms":{"regions-countries":10822328,"research-teams":10818966},"custom_schema":[],"twitter_description":"Just 12% of Republicans and Republican leaners say dealing with climate change should be a top priority for the president and Congress.","og_image":8311,"indexnow_submitted_at":null,"gsc_index_status":null},"prepublish_checks":{},"apple_news_notices":[],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"relatedPostsOrdered":[],"bylinesOrdered":[{"key":"_1k48z62fj","termId":966},{"key":"_us2pl675l","termId":957}],"acknowledgementsOrdered":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/short-read\/7765","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/short-read"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/short-read"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/658"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7765"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/short-read\/7765\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":20826,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/short-read\/7765\/revisions\/20826"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7765"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7765"},{"taxonomy":"bylines","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/bylines?post=7765"},{"taxonomy":"collection","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/collection?post=7765"},{"taxonomy":"datasets","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/datasets?post=7765"},{"taxonomy":"_post_visibility","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_post_visibility?post=7765"},{"taxonomy":"formats","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/formats?post=7765"},{"taxonomy":"_fund_pool","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/_fund_pool?post=7765"},{"taxonomy":"languages","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/languages?post=7765"},{"taxonomy":"regions-countries","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/regions-countries?post=7765"},{"taxonomy":"research-teams","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/research-teams?post=7765"},{"taxonomy":"workflow-status","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/alpha.pewresearch.org\/pewresearch-org\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/workflow-status?post=7765"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}