Generation gaps in US public opinion on renewable energy and climate change

PLoS One. 2019 Jul 10;14(7):e0217608. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0217608. eCollection 2019.

Abstract

The topics of climate change and renewable energy are often linked in policy discussions and scientific analysis, but public opinion on these topics exhibits both overlap and divergence. Although renewable energy has potentially broader acceptance than anthropogenic climate change, it can also face differently-based opposition. Analyses of US and regional surveys, including time series of repeated surveys in New Hampshire (2010-2018) and northeast Oregon (2011-2018), explore the social bases and trends of public views on both issues. Political divisions are prominent, although somewhat greater regarding climate change due to substantive differences and more partisan opposition. Regarding climate change and to a lesser extent renewable energy, political divisions tends to widen with education. There also are robust age and temporal effects: younger adults more often prioritize renewable energy development, and agree with scientists on the reality of anthropogenic climate change (ACC). Across all age groups and both regional series, support for renewable energy and recognition of ACC have been gradually rising. Contrary to widespread speculation, these trends have not visibly responded to events such as the US hurricanes of 2012, 2017 or 2018. Together with age-cohort replacement and the potential for changes in age-group voting participation, however, the gradual trends suggest that public pressure for action on these issues could grow.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Climate Change
  • Environmental Policy*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Politics
  • Public Opinion*
  • Renewable Energy
  • Sustainable Development*
  • United States
  • Young Adult

Grants and funding

Renewable energy and climate questions on the Granite State Poll have been supported by grants from the National Science Foundation (The Living Bridge IIP-1230460 and 1430260 to EB and LCH; New Hampshire EPSCoR EPS-1101245 to LCH), and by the Carsey School of Public Policy and the Sustainability Institute at University of New Hampshire. The Communities and Forests in Oregon (CAFOR) project was supported by the Agricultural and Food Research Initiative, U.S. Department of Agriculture (2014-68002-21782 and 2010-67023-21705 to JH and LCH). The North Country survey was supported by a grant from the Neil and Louise Tillotson Fund of the New Hampshire Charitable Foundation to LCH. Support for the POLES surveys occurred through the PoLAR Partnership grant from the National Science Foundation (DUE-1239783). Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of supporting organizations. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.