New Poll: Wildfires Driving Strong Climate Change Concern for Many Americans

(Washington, D.C. - September 16, 2020) Today, EDF Action released a national poll that shows the Western wildfires are driving strong concern about climate change, with three quarters of Americans (73%) saying recent weather events like wildfires have made them more concerned about the impacts of climate change. That concern spans generations, with 83% of GenZ, 78% of Millennials, 71% of GenX, and 70% of Baby Boomers expressing alarm.

Additionally, 78% of Obama-Trump voters and 75% of swing independents say recent weather events like wildfires have made them more concerned about the impacts of climate change. Here is the polling memo.

“The fires are wreaking havoc on communities up-and-down the West Coast,” said EDF Action Senior Vice President for Climate Nat Keohane. “And voters across the country, including many important swing voters, are very concerned about the fires and the devastating impact they’re having on our communities. People are waking up to the reality that climate change is here and they’re making the connection between this crisis and extreme weather events like these historic fires that are raging across the West. And the science backs them up: hotter temperatures and drier soils are indeed making wildfires worse. But it’s clear that Donald Trump isn’t getting it – one day he’s in Florida calling himself a ‘great environmentalist’ while the next he’s in California denying the climate crisis.”