[✔️] October 7, 2023 - Global Warming News Digest | Faith Factor, Research report on religion and climate change - extensive. 1984 - Reagan debates Mondale

[Richard Pauli]

/*October *//*7, 2023*/

/[ Church as a major institution of change ]
/*Religious Leaders May Be Key to Breaking Climate Action Gridlock, Poll 
Suggests*
Religious beliefs may play an important role in whether someone believes 
humans are warming the planet by burning fossil fuels, new polls found. 
The findings come as Pope Francis, the leader of the Catholic Church, 
released his latest papal letter, rebuking the “irresponsible lifestyle” 
of Westerners and chastising those who try to delay efforts to address 
the climate crisis or deny its very existence.
The survey, published the same day Pope Francis said ”no one can ignore” 
climate change, found that stronger religious convictions often paired 
with increased doubt in climate science.
https://insideclimatenews.org/news/06102023/todays-climate-religious-leaders-pope-francis-breaking-climate-action-gridlock-polls/

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/

/[New survey says much about Americans and religion -- 
https://www.prri.org/research/the-faith-factor-in-climate-change-how-religion-impacts-american-attitudes-on-climate-and-environmental-policy/ 
]/
*The Faith Factor in Climate Change: How Religion Impacts American 
Attitudes on Climate and Environmental Policy*
PRRI Staff, 10.04.2023
*Introduction*
As the planet’s temperature continues to rise, producing more severe 
weather events and threatening our future well-being, many religious 
leaders have in recent years taken clear stances about the dangers that 
climate change poses. Pope Francis has made climate care an important 
part of his papacy by establishing a World Day of Prayer each September 
for the care of creation, and calling on governments to enact more 
regulations against the emission of fossil fuels and individuals to 
adopt more sustainable lifestyles. Ecumenical organizations in the 
United States, such as the National Council of Churches, have long 
spoken out for environmental causes, linking such concerns to the 
Christian doctrine of stewardship for the earth. The National 
Association of Evangelicals issued a sweeping report in 2022 that also 
called on its followers to address climate change, noting a “biblical 
basis” to “worship God by caring for creation.” Major Jewish, Muslim, 
and Hindu religious groups and their leaders have also called for 
environmental activism based on religious teachings.

While the scientific consensus is clear that human activities, 
particularly through carbon emissions, are the main culprit of climate 
change, political views differ with respect to the causes of climate 
change, its political importance, and how to address it. Moreover, 
religious views on climate change are far from monolithic.

This report covers Americans’ assessments of the threats of climate 
change, how it affects their lives and voting behavior, and what steps 
they are willing to take to combat climate change, with particular focus 
on the impact of religion on such views. We also consider how 
partisanship, media trust, race and ethnicity, generation, and education 
are linked to climate change attitudes. Furthermore, we explore 
Americans’ spiritual connections to the earth and reasons why they 
support taking action to protect the environment.

*Americans’ Views on Climate Change*
Causes of Climate Change
The majority of Americans (61%) believe that climate change is caused 
mostly by human activity, such as burning fossil fuels. Almost three in 
ten Americans (28%) say climate change is caused mostly by natural 
patterns in the earth’s environment. Just one in ten Americans (10%) say 
there is no solid evidence that climate change is happening.[1]

*Religious Affiliation*
Three-fourths of Hispanic Catholics and religiously unaffiliated 
Americans (76%) believe climate change is caused by human activity, as 
do the majority of other non-Christians (70%), Jewish Americans (67%), 
Hispanic Protestants (61%), Black Protestants (59%), other Protestants 
of color (59%), white Catholics (56%), white mainline/non-evangelical 
Protestants (54%), and about half of Latter-day Saints (48%). However, 
just three in ten white evangelical Protestants (31%) believe that 
climate change is caused by humans.[2]

White evangelical Protestants (49%) and Latter-day Saints (44%) are the 
most likely to believe that climate change is caused by natural patterns 
in the environment, compared with one-third of white 
mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (33%) and white Catholics (33%), 
31% of other Protestants of color, 28% of Jewish Americans, 27% of 
Hispanic Protestants, 25% of Black Protestants, 20% of other 
non-Christians, and 18% of both Hispanic Catholics and religiously 
unaffiliated Americans.

Nearly two in ten white evangelical Protestants (19%) believe there is 
no solid evidence of climate change, which is slightly higher than other 
religious traditions, including 14% of Black Protestants, 12% of white 
mainline/non-evangelical Protestants and Hispanic Protestants, 10% of 
other Protestants of color and white Catholics, 9% of non-Christians, 8% 
of Latter-day Saints, 6% of Hispanic Catholics and religiously 
unaffiliated, and 5% of Jewish Americans.

As importance of religion wanes, belief that climate change is caused by 
humans increases. Among Americans who say that religion is the most 
important thing in their lives, 39% say that climate change is caused by 
humans, compared with 56% of those who say religion is one among many 
important things, 65% who say religion is not as important, and 78% who 
say religion is not important. In contrast, 40% of Americans who say 
that religion is the most important thing in their lives say that 
climate change is mostly caused by natural patterns in the earth’s 
environment, compared with 33% of Americans who say religion is one 
among many important things, 26% who say religion is not as important, 
and 16% who say religion is not important. Finally, 20% of Americans who 
say that religion is the most important thing in their lives are more 
likely than those who say religion is one among many important things 
(10%), who say religion is not as important (8%), and who say religion 
is not important (5%) to say that there is no solid evidence that 
climate change is happening.

https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_1.png

*Introduction*
As the planet’s temperature continues to rise, producing more severe 
weather events and threatening our future well-being, many religious 
leaders have in recent years taken clear stances about the dangers that 
climate change poses. Pope Francis has made climate care an important 
part of his papacy by establishing a World Day of Prayer each September 
for the care of creation, and calling on governments to enact more 
regulations against the emission of fossil fuels and individuals to 
adopt more sustainable lifestyles. Ecumenical organizations in the 
United States, such as the National Council of Churches, have long 
spoken out for environmental causes, linking such concerns to the 
Christian doctrine of stewardship for the earth. The National 
Association of Evangelicals issued a sweeping report in 2022 that also 
called on its followers to address climate change, noting a “biblical 
basis” to “worship God by caring for creation.” Major Jewish, Muslim, 
and Hindu religious groups and their leaders have also called for 
environmental activism based on religious teachings.

While the scientific consensus is clear that human activities, 
particularly through carbon emissions, are the main culprit of climate 
change, political views differ with respect to the causes of climate 
change, its political importance, and how to address it. Moreover, 
religious views on climate change are far from monolithic.

This report covers Americans’ assessments of the threats of climate 
change, how it affects their lives and voting behavior, and what steps 
they are willing to take to combat climate change, with particular focus 
on the impact of religion on such views. We also consider how 
partisanship, media trust, race and ethnicity, generation, and education 
are linked to climate change attitudes. Furthermore, we explore 
Americans’ spiritual connections to the earth and reasons why they 
support taking action to protect the environment.

*Americans’ Views on Climate Change*
Causes of Climate Change
The majority of Americans (61%) believe that climate change is caused 
mostly by human activity, such as burning fossil fuels. Almost three in 
ten Americans (28%) say climate change is caused mostly by natural 
patterns in the earth’s environment. Just one in ten Americans (10%) say 
there is no solid evidence that climate change is happening.[1]

*Religious Affiliation*
Three-fourths of Hispanic Catholics and religiously unaffiliated 
Americans (76%) believe climate change is caused by human activity, as 
do the majority of other non-Christians (70%), Jewish Americans (67%), 
Hispanic Protestants (61%), Black Protestants (59%), other Protestants 
of color (59%), white Catholics (56%), white mainline/non-evangelical 
Protestants (54%), and about half of Latter-day Saints (48%). However, 
just three in ten white evangelical Protestants (31%) believe that 
climate change is caused by humans.[2]

White evangelical Protestants (49%) and Latter-day Saints (44%) are the 
most likely to believe that climate change is caused by natural patterns 
in the environment, compared with one-third of white 
mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (33%) and white Catholics (33%), 
31% of other Protestants of color, 28% of Jewish Americans, 27% of 
Hispanic Protestants, 25% of Black Protestants, 20% of other 
non-Christians, and 18% of both Hispanic Catholics and religiously 
unaffiliated Americans.

Nearly two in ten white evangelical Protestants (19%) believe there is 
no solid evidence of climate change, which is slightly higher than other 
religious traditions, including 14% of Black Protestants, 12% of white 
mainline/non-evangelical Protestants and Hispanic Protestants, 10% of 
other Protestants of color and white Catholics, 9% of non-Christians, 8% 
of Latter-day Saints, 6% of Hispanic Catholics and religiously 
unaffiliated, and 5% of Jewish Americans.

As importance of religion wanes, belief that climate change is caused by 
humans increases. Among Americans who say that religion is the most 
important thing in their lives, 39% say that climate change is caused by 
humans, compared with 56% of those who say religion is one among many 
important things, 65% who say religion is not as important, and 78% who 
say religion is not important. In contrast, 40% of Americans who say 
that religion is the most important thing in their lives say that 
climate change is mostly caused by natural patterns in the earth’s 
environment, compared with 33% of Americans who say religion is one 
among many important things, 26% who say religion is not as important, 
and 16% who say religion is not important. Finally, 20% of Americans who 
say that religion is the most important thing in their lives are more 
likely than those who say religion is one among many important things 
(10%), who say religion is not as important (8%), and who say religion 
is not important (5%) to say that there is no solid evidence that 
climate change is happening.

*Party Affiliation and Media Trust*
More than eight in ten Democrats (83%) say climate change is caused by 
humans, compared with 64% of independents and 28% of Republicans. 
Republicans are more likely than independents and Democrats to believe 
that climate change is naturally caused (50%, 28%, and 12%, 
respectively). Although most Americans dispute the notion that climate 
change is occurring, Republicans (20%) are more than twice as likely as 
independents (8%) and five times as likely as Democrats (4%) to believe 
that there is no solid evidence of climate change.

More than three-fourths of Americans who most trust mainstream news 
sources (77%) and the majority of Americans who do not watch TV news 
(57%) believe that climate change is caused mostly by human activity. In 
comparison, only three in ten of those who most trust Fox News (29%) and 
two in ten of those who most trust conservative news sources (20%) say 
the same. Around half of those who most trust conservative news (51%) 
and Fox News (50%) say climate change is a natural occurrence. Three in 
ten of those who do not watch TV news (31%) and less than two in ten of 
those who trust mainstream news (18%) believe climate change is caused 
mostly by natural patterns in the earth’s environment. Over one-fourth 
of conservative news viewers (28%) and two in ten Fox News viewers (19%) 
believe there is no solid evidence that climate change is happening — 
more than those Americans who do not watch TV news (11%) and who watch 
only mainstream news (5%).

https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_2.png

*Generation, Race, and Education*
Except for the Silent Generation (47%), majorities of each generation 
say that climate change is caused by human activity: 68% of millennials, 
67% of Generation Z, 58% of Generation X, and 55% of baby boomers. The 
Silent Generation (38%) and baby boomers (35%) are notably more likely 
than Gen X (29%), millennials (22%), and Gen Z (22%) to believe that 
climate change is caused by natural patterns in the earth’s environment. 
About one in ten Americans of each generation do not believe there is 
evidence of climate change: 13% of the Silent Generation, 12% of Gen X, 
10% of Gen Z, 9% of millennials, and 8% of baby boomers.

Attitudes about the causes of climate change are also related to race 
and ethnicity, with 78% of  Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders 
(AAPI), 73% of Hispanic Americans, and 67% of multiracial Americans 
believing that climate change is caused by human activities. Smaller 
majorities of Black and white Americans, 60% and 56%, respectively, say 
the same. White Americans (33%), however, are notably more likely than 
Black Americans (24%), multiracial Americans (21%), Hispanic Americans 
(19%), and AAPI Americans (15%) to say that climate change is caused by 
natural patterns in the earth’s environment. Around one in ten or less 
of Black (13%), white (11%), multiracial Americans (11%), Hispanic (7%), 
and AAPI Americans (5%) believe that there is no solid evidence of 
climate change.

Over two-thirds of college graduates (68%) and postgraduates (73%) say 
that the effects of climate change are mostly caused by human activity, 
compared with slim majorities of Americans with some college (55%) and 
with a high school diploma or less (56%). By contrast, one-third of 
Americans with some college (33%), 28% of Americans with a high school 
education or less, 26% of college graduates, and 22% of postgraduates 
say that the effects of climate change are caused by natural patterns in 
the earth’s environment. Americans with a high school diploma or less 
(14%) and with some college (11%) are more than twice as likely as 
college graduates (5%) and postgraduates (5%) to believe that there is 
no solid evidence of climate change.

*Is Climate Change Indicative of the “End Times?”*
Climate Change and the “End of Times”
PRRI’s 2023 Climate Survey finds that 35% of Americans agree that the 
severity of recent natural disasters is evidence that we are in what the 
Bible calls “the end of times,” compared with 63% who disagree, 
including 37% who strongly disagree. In 2014, Americans were evenly 
divided on this question (49% agree vs. 47% disagree).

Religious Affiliation and Importance of Religion
Substantial majorities of Black Protestants (73%) and white evangelical 
Protestants (62%, down from 77% in 2014), as well as nearly half of 
Hispanic Catholics (49%), agree that natural disasters are evidence of 
the end of times. In comparison, about two in ten or fewer white 
mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (23%, down from 35% in 2014), white 
Catholics (21%, slightly down from 26% in 2014), or religiously 
unaffiliated Americans (13%, significantly down from 29% in 2014) 
believe that recent natural disasters are evidence of the end of times.[3]

Among Americans who say that religion is the most important thing in 
their life, 67% agree that natural disasters are evidence of the end of 
times (75% in 2014), compared with 46% of those who say religion is one 
among many important things (51% in 2014), 20% who say religion is not 
as important (27% in 2014), and 12% who say religion is not important 
(14% in 2014).
https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_4.png
*Christian Dominance in Society and Stewardship of the Earth*
We also consider whether theological views about Christian dominionism 
and stewardship are linked to whether Americans believe that the 
severity of natural disasters is evidence of the end times. Christian 
dominionism is the idea that God has called Christians to exercise 
dominion over all areas of society. Environmental stewardship is a 
theological belief that individuals are required by God to take care of 
or be good stewards of the Earth.

We find that only about two in ten Americans agree (21%) that God has 
called Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of society; nearly 
three in four Americans disagree (74%), including 52% who strongly 
disagree. White evangelical Protestants (45%) and Hispanic Protestants 
(44%) are the most likely to agree that God has called Christians to 
exercise dominion, followed by Black Protestants (38%), and other 
Protestants of color (38%). About two in ten or fewer white 
mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (20%), white Catholics (20%), 
Hispanic Catholics (19%), and Latter-day Saints (19%) also agree. Only 
about one in ten or less of other non-Christians (12%), Jewish Americans 
(7%), and religiously unaffiliated Americans (6%) agree.

Americans who say that religion is the most important thing in their 
lives (46%) are about twice as likely as those who say religion is one 
among many important things (28%), more than four times as likely as 
those who say religion is not as important (10%), and about nine times 
as likely as those who say religion is not important (5%) to say that 
God has called Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of 
American society.

When Americans were asked about the importance of living up to our 
God-given role as stewards to take care of the earth as a reason for 
protecting the environment, 28% say that it is extremely important, 30% 
say that it is very important, 20% say it is somewhat important, and 21% 
say it is not too important (7%) or at all important (14%).

With the exception of other non-Christians (41%), Jewish Americans 
(34%), and the religiously unaffiliated (33%), the majorities of all 
other religious groups say that living up to God’s given role as 
stewards is extremely or very important: 84% of Latter-day Saints, 80% 
of white evangelical Protestants and Black Protestants, 78% of Hispanic 
Catholics, 76% of Hispanic Protestants, 73% of other Protestants of 
color, 63% of white mainline/non-evangelical Protestants, and 56% of 
white Catholics.

Americans who say that religion is the most important thing in their 
lives (83%) are notably more likely than those who say religion is one 
among many important things (74%), those who say religion is not as 
important (49%), and those who say religion is not important (31%) to 
say that living up to God’s given role as stewards is extremely or very 
important as a reason for protecting the environment.
https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_5-1.png
Among Americans who agree that God has called Christians to exercise 
dominion over all areas of American society, two-thirds (67%) agree that 
natural disasters are evidence that we are living in the end of times, 
compared with 25% among those who disagree that God has called 
Christians to exercise dominion.


Stewardship views are less likely to be linked to viewing natural 
disasters as signs of the end times. Among those who say that living up 
to our God-given role as stewards to take care of the earth is extremely 
or very important as a reason for protecting the environment, 47% agree 
with the apocalyptic statement, compared with 19% among those who say it 
is somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all.
https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_6.png
*Party Affiliation and Media Trust*
Republicans (44%) are more likely than independents (29%) and Democrats 
(30%) to agree that natural disasters are a sign of the end of times.

Agreement with the severity of natural disasters as evidence of the end 
of times is greater among Americans who most trust Fox News (52%) or 
far-right news outlets (43%). Roughly three in ten Americans who most 
trust mainstream news (35%) and who do not watch TV news (29%) also agree.

Generation, Race, and Education
There are minimal differences across generations in their agreement with 
the idea that natural disasters are evidence of the end of times. 
Roughly one-third of Gen Z (38%), millennials (35%), Gen X (36%), baby 
boomers (34%), and members of the Silent Generation (31%) agree.

Black Americans are the most likely to agree that natural disasters are 
evidence of the end of times (63%), compared with Hispanic Americans 
(47%), multiracial Americans (33%), white Americans (26%), and AAPI 
Americans (23%).

Agreement with the idea that recent natural disasters are evidence of 
the end of times decreases with higher levels of formal education: 47% 
of Americans with a high school degree or less, 37% of Americans with 
some college experience, 25% of college graduates, and 15% of 
postgraduates. Whites without a college degree are more likely to agree 
with this statement (35%) than whites with a college degree (13%).

https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_7.png

*Climate Change and the Will of God*
PRRI’s 2023 Climate Survey finds that 28% of Americans agree that God 
would not allow humans to destroy the earth, compared with 70% who 
disagree, including 44% who strongly disagree. In 2014, nearly four in 
ten Americans (39%) agreed with this statement, compared with 53% who 
disagreed.

Religious Affiliation and Importance of Religious Affiliation
Less than half of all religious groups agree that God would not allow 
humans to destroy the earth, including 46% of Black Protestants (down 
from 59% in 2014), 44% of Hispanic Catholics (down from 61% in 2014), 
43% of Latter-day Saints, 43% of Hispanic Protestants, 37% of other 
nonwhite Protestants, and 35% of white evangelical Protestants (down 
from 45% in 2014). In comparison, about two in four or fewer white 
Catholics (24%, down from 38% in 2014), Jewish Americans (24%), white 
mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (22%, down from 36% in 2014), other 
non-Christians (22%, down from 40% in 2014), and religiously 
unaffiliated Americans (13%, down from 23% in 2014) agree with the 
statement that God would not allow humans to destroy the earth.

Among Americans who say that religion is the most important thing in 
their lives, 46% agree that God would not allow humans to destroy the 
earth (50% in 2014), compared with 37% of those who say religion is one 
among many important things (45% in 2014), 20% who say religion is not 
as important (32% in 2014), and 11% who say religion is not important 
(13% in 2014).

https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_8.png
Among Americans who agree that God has called Christians to exercise 
dominion over all areas of American society, 51% agree that God would 
not allow humans to destroy the earth, compared with 22% among those who 
disagree that God has called Christians to exercise dominion over all 
areas of American society.


Among those who say that living up to our God-given role as stewards to 
take care of the earth is an extremely or very important reason for 
protecting the environment, 35% agree that God would not allow humans to 
destroy the earth, compared with 18% among those who say it is somewhat 
important, not too important, or not important at all.
https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_9.png
*Party Affiliation and Media Trust*
Republicans (35%) are more likely than independents (26%) and Democrats 
(22%) to agree that God would not allow humans to destroy the earth.

Agreement with the idea that God would not allow humans to destroy the 
earth is greater among Americans who most trust Fox News (36%) or 
far-right news outlets (42%). Roughly three in ten or less Americans who 
most trust mainstream news (28%) and who do not watch TV news (24%) 
agree with both statements.

*Generation, Race, and Education*
The Silent Generation (38%) is more likely than younger generations — 
including 29% of baby boomers, 27% of Gen X, 25% of millennials, and 31% 
of Gen Z — to agree that God would not allow humans to destroy the earth.

Black Americans (45%) are the most likely to agree that God would not 
allow humans to destroy the earth, compared with 38% of Hispanic 
Americans, 25% of multiracial Americans, 22% of white Americans, and 20% 
of AAPI Americans.

Agreement with the idea that God would not allow humans to destroy the 
earth decreases with higher levels of education: 37% of those with a 
high school degree or less, 29% of those with some college experience, 
18% of college graduates, and 15% of postgraduates. Whites without a 
college degree are more likely to agree with the statement than whites 
with a college degree (28% vs. 14%).

https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_10.png

*Spiritual Connections to the Earth*
More Americans than not (52% vs. 45%) agree with the statement “Most 
days, I feel a deep spiritual connection with nature and the earth.”

*Religious Affiliation*
With the exception of Jewish (42%) and unaffiliated Americans (46%), at 
least half of members of all other religious groups say they feel a deep 
spiritual connection with nature and the earth. Nearly three in four 
Latter-day Saints (73%) and six in ten members of other non-Christian 
religions (61%), Hispanic Catholics (60%), white 
mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (58%), and Black Protestants (56%) 
also agree. Around half of white evangelical Protestants (54%), Hispanic 
Protestants (53%), white Catholics (51%), and other protestants of color 
(48%) say they feel a deep spiritual connection with nature and the earth.

Among Americans who say that religion is the most important thing or 
among many important things in their lives, 55% agree that they feel a 
deep spiritual connection with nature and the earth, compared with 61% 
among those who say that religion is one of the most important things, 
48% who say religion is not as important, and 43% who say religion is 
not important in their lives.
https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_11.png
Among Americans who agree that God has called Christians to exercise 
dominion over all areas of American society, 61% agree that most days 
they feel a deep spiritual connection with nature and the earth, 
compared with 51% among those who disagree that God has called 
Christians to exercise dominion over all areas of American society.

Among those who say that living up to our God-given role as stewards to 
take care of the earth is extremely or very important as a reason for 
protecting the environment, 60% agree that they feel a deep spiritual 
connection with nature and the earth, compared with 40% among those who 
say it is somewhat important, not too important, or not important at all.

*Party Affiliation and Media Trust*
There are no differences by partisanship in agreement with feeling a 
strong spiritual connection to the earth: 51% of Republicans, 51% of 
Democrats, and 53% of independents agree.

Similarly, there are minimal differences between Americans across which 
media outlets they most trust. Roughly half of Americans who do not 
watch TV news (50%), and most who trust far-right news outlets (50%), 
Fox News (52%), or mainstream TV news (55%) agree that most days they 
feel a spiritual connection with the earth.

*Generation, Race, and Education*
The Silent Generation (64%) and baby boomers (61%) are more likely than 
Gen X (52%), millennials (44%), and Gen Z (48%) to say they feel a deep 
spiritual connection with nature and the earth. Women (57%) are more 
likely than men (47%) to say they feel spiritually connected to the 
earth, but this is especially the case among women who belong to the 
Silent Generation (74%), baby boomer women (65%), and Gen X women (59%). 
By contrast, millennial men (39%) and Gen X men (44%) are the least 
likely to agree with this statement.

AAPI Americans (40%) are notably less likely than white Americans (52%), 
multiracial Americans (53%), Black Americans (54%), and Hispanic 
Americans (57%) to agree that they feel a deep spiritual connection with 
nature and earth.

Americans with a high school education (56%) are slightly more likely 
than those with a college degree (47%) and a postgraduate degree (50%) 
to say they feel a deep spiritual connection with nature and the earth, 
but do not differ from Americans with some college education (53%). The 
majority of whites without a college degree (54%) say they feel deeply 
connected to the earth, compared with 48% of whites with a college degree.

*Effects of Climate Change and Vote Choice*
*Is Climate Change a Crisis?*
Americans’ views on the urgency of climate change have remained about 
the same over the past decade. A little over one-quarter of Americans 
(27%) say that climate change is a crisis, just a few percentage points 
up from 23% in 2014.

*Religious Affiliation*
With the exception of religiously unaffiliated and white evangelical 
Protestants, beliefs on the severity of climate change have not shifted 
significantly among religious traditions. About three in ten Jewish 
Americans (32%), Hispanic Catholics (31%), and other Protestants of 
color (27%) as well as about two in ten white mainline/non-evangelical 
Protestants (22%), white Catholics (20%), Black Protestants (19%), and 
Hispanic Protestants (16%) view climate change as a crisis. Just one in 
ten Latter-day Saints (10%) believe the same. Among religiously 
unaffiliated Americans, the belief that climate change is best described 
as a crisis increased by ten percentage points, from 33% in 2014 to 43% 
in 2023. By contrast, among white evangelical Protestants, agreement 
with this belief went down from 13% to 8% during same period.

Among Americans who say that religion is the most important thing or 
among many important things in their lives, just 13% say climate change 
is a crisis (18% in 2014), compared with 20% among those who say that 
religion is one of the most important things, 27% who say religion is 
not as important (32% in 2014), and 45% who say religion is not 
important in their lives (33% in 2014).

https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_12.png
*Party Affiliation*
The belief among Republicans that climate change is a crisis dropped to 
6% from 12% in 2014. By contrast, the belief that climate change is a 
crisis among Democrats increased by ten percentage points over the past 
decade, from 34% in 2014 to 44% in 2023. Among independents, the belief 
that climate change is a crisis shifted slightly from 21% in 2014 to 25% 
in 2023.

*Generation, Race, and Education and Media Trust*
Younger generations are much more likely to see climate change as a 
crisis. Roughly one-third of Gen Z (34%) and millennials (32%) see 
climate change as a crisis, compared with around two in ten members of 
Gen X (23%), baby boomers (23%), or the Silent Generation (17%).

Over one-third of AAPI Americans (35%), three in ten multiracial 
Americans (30%) and Hispanic Americans (29%), and about one in four 
white Americans (25%) and Black Americans (24%) view climate change as a 
crisis.

Americans with a high school diploma or less formal education (22%) and 
those with some college experience (23%) are less likely than Americans 
with a college degree (34%) and a postgraduate degree (36%) to say that 
climate change is a crisis. Further, Americans with college or 
postgraduate degrees have grown more likely to view climate change as a 
crisis over the past decade — 25% and 31%, respectively, in 2014. About 
one-third of white college graduates (34%) and two in ten white 
non-college graduates (20%) believe that climate change is a crisis.

Over one-third of Americans who trust mainstream news sources the most 
(35%) believe that climate change is a crisis, along with nearly 
one-quarter of those who do not watch TV news sources (24%). In 
comparison, fewer than one in ten Americans who most trust Fox News (9%) 
or far-right news outlets (4%) say that climate change is a crisis.

https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_13.png

*Views of Climate Change and Vote Choice*
Looking at climate change as an issue that people consider when voting, 
nearly three in ten Americans (29%) say they will only vote for a 
candidate who shares their views on climate change. Around half of 
Americans (48%) will consider a candidate’s position on climate change 
as just one of many important factors when voting. More than two in ten 
Americans (22%) do not see climate change as a major issue when voting 
for a candidate in an election.

*Religious Affiliation*
Nearly four in ten religiously unaffiliated Americans (39%) say they 
will only vote for a candidate with shared views on climate change. 
Around three in ten Jewish Americans (31%), Hispanic Catholics (29%), 
and white mainline/non-evangelical Protestants (28%), and around 
one-quarter of Hispanic Protestants (26%), white evangelical Protestants 
(24%), and white Catholics (22%) say they will only vote for a candidate 
who shares their climate change stance. Less than two in ten Black 
Protestants (18%) and Latter-day Saints (15%) would vote for a candidate 
solely based on their position on climate change.

Among Americans who say that religion is the most important thing or 
among many important things in their lives, 25% say they will only vote 
for a candidate based on their views on climate change, compared with 
23% among those who say that religion is one of the most important 
things, 27% who say religion is not as important (32% in 2014); and 41% 
who say religion is not important in their lives (33% in 2014).

https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_14.png 


*Party Affiliation and Media Trust*
Republicans (21%) and independents (26%) are less likely than Democrats 
(39%) to only vote for a candidate based off their stance on climate 
change. Republicans (38%) are almost twice as likely as independents 
(21%) and nearly four times as likely as Democrats (10%) to say that 
climate change is not a major issue for voting.

There are only small differences between Americans who most trust 
mainstream news sources and those who trust Fox News or far-right 
outlets. Around one-quarter of Americans who most trust conservative 
news (25%), Fox News (26%), no TV news (29%), and mainstream news (29%) 
say they will only vote for a candidate that shares their views on 
climate change.

*Generation, Race, and Education*
Across generational lines, Americans are roughly similarly likely to say 
that a candidate must share their views on climate change. Around three 
in ten millennials (30%), members of Gen Z (32%), or the Silent 
Generation (32%) say that candidates must share their views on climate 
change. Baby boomers (28%) and members of Gen X (25%) are marginally 
less likely to say the same.

Black (19%) and multiracial (25%) Americans are slightly less likely 
than white (30%), Hispanic (31%), and AAPI Americans (32%) to say that a 
candidate must share their views on climate change to earn their vote.

Around one-third of Americans with a four-year college degree (31%) or 
postgraduate degree (34%), compared with slightly fewer Americans with 
some college experience (27%) or with a high school degree or less 
(26%), say that they will only support a candidate who shares their 
views on climate change. White college graduates (34%) are more likely 
than white non-college graduates (28%) to take a candidate’s view on 
climate change into consideration when voting.
https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_15.png
*Why Should Americans Protect the Environment?*
*Reasons to Protect the Environment*
PRRI asked Americans to rank the importance of various reasons for 
protecting the environment. Messages that emphasize human 
responsibilities and preventing harm are extremely or very important to 
around eight in ten Americans. Approximately eight in ten Americans say 
that preventing human suffering (80%), living up to our responsibility 
to protect future generations (78%), or respecting and taking care of 
the earth (78%) are important reasons for protecting the environment. 
Additionally, around seven in ten Americans think it is important to 
live up to our responsibility to protect other species (70%) or know 
that some environmental damage can never be undone (68%).

*Religious Affiliation*
There are few major differences across religious groups in their views 
of the importance of various reasons to protect the environment. 
Majorities of all religious groups say that each reason is important. 
However, Hispanic Catholics are most likely to find these reasons 
compelling, with around eight in ten or more members of this group 
reporting each reason as important. While Black Protestants followed a 
similar trend, smaller shares of this group found knowing that some 
environmental damage can never be undone (68%) and living up to our 
responsibility to protect other species (67%) to be important. The vast 
majority of white evangelical Protestants also find preventing human 
suffering and harm (80%) as important reasons to protect the environment.

Other religious groups follow similar patterns: around eight in ten or 
more members of all religious groups say preventing human harm and 
suffering is an important reason to protect the environment.

*Party and Media Trust*
Majorities of Americans across the partisan spectrum say that each of 
these reasons to protect the environment are important. Democrats are 
significantly more likely than Republicans to rate nearly all these 
reasons as important. Independents generally express views similar to 
those of all Americans.

A majority of Americans, regardless of media trust, say that all of 
these reasons are important. However, the one exception is that only 45% 
of those who most trust far-right media report knowing that some 
environmental damage cannot be undone as important. Additionally, those 
who most trust mainstream news or do not watch TV news are more likely 
than those who trust Fox News or conservative outlets to find these 
reasons important.
https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_16.png
*Generation and Race*

Solid majorities across all generations agree with the importance of 
different reasons for protecting the environment.

Differences across racial groups on the importance of different reasons 
for protecting the environment are relatively small. Hispanic Americans 
are generally most likely to agree that these reasons to protect the 
environment are important, with around eight in ten or more saying that 
each reason is compelling.

Around two-thirds or more of Black Americans find all these statements 
compelling, with around eight in ten saying that preventing human 
suffering and harm (83%), living up to our responsibility to protect 
future generations (80%), or respecting and taking care of the earth 
(78%) are important.

Around three-quarters of AAPIs and multiracial Americans find each of 
the reasons to protect the environment important, though slightly fewer 
AAPIs say that protecting other species is important (65%).

Although around two-thirds or more white Americans say each of these 
statements are important, they are less likely than other racial groups 
to find these reasons important.

*Actions to Prevent Climate Change*

*What Climate Policies Do Americans Support the Most?*
Most Americans are generally supportive of a variety of policies to 
fight climate change, even when asked to consider likely increased costs 
or taxes. While these policies win support from majorities of Democrats 
and independents, Republicans lean toward opposing most policies.

One policy wins broad bipartisan support: 77% of Americans support 
providing tax breaks for individuals who adopt renewable energy sources 
to power their home, including 60% of Republicans, 78% of independents, 
and 89% of Democrats.

Around two-thirds of Americans (66%) support imposing stricter limits on 
the amount of carbon dioxide that power plants and other industrial 
facilities can release, even if it raises the prices of goods and 
services. Partisan divides increase on this question: 43% of Republicans 
would favor this policy, compared with 66% of independents and 86% of 
Democrats.

Around six in ten Americans support increasing federal funding for 
research on renewable energy such as wind, solar, and hydrogen, even if 
it raises taxes (62%), or imposing stricter limits on the amount of 
carbon dioxide that vehicles produce, even if it raises the price of 
cars (58%). Roughly one-third of Republicans support these policies (36% 
and 32%, respectively), compared with majorities of independents (64% 
and 55%, respectively) and more than eight in ten Democrats (84% and 
83%, respectively).

A slim majority of Americans (51%) favor a policy that would require 
companies that produce fossil fuels such as coal, oil, and natural gas 
to pay a tax, even if it raises the cost of electricity. Just 
one-quarter of Republicans support this policy (26%), compared with 
twice as many independents (52%) and nearly three times as many 
Democrats (74%).

Finally, just over four in ten Americans (44%) support a program that 
would eventually phase out gas-powered cars and replace them with 
electric cars. Only 17% of Republicans and less than half of 
independents (45%) support this policy, compared with 67% of Democrats.
https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_17-1.png
*Changes Since 2014*
Since 2014, Americans have become slightly more likely to support a 
policy that would put stricter limits on the amount of carbon dioxide 
that power plants and other industrial facilities can release, even if 
it raises the prices of goods and services (from 57% to 66%), while 
support for other policies has stayed relatively stable or decreased in 
the same period.

Americans are less likely to favor a policy that would put stricter 
limits on the amount of carbon dioxide that vehicles produce, even if it 
raises the price of cars now (58%) than they were in 2014 (64%).

Most of the increase in support comes among Democrats, while Republicans 
are less likely to support each of the policies included in the 2014 
survey. Democrats are much more likely to support requiring companies 
that produce fossil fuels, such as coal, oil, and natural gas, to pay a 
tax, even if it raises the cost of electricity (from 56% to 74%), or a 
policy that would place stricter limits on the amount of carbon dioxide 
that power plants and other industrial facilities can release, even if 
it raises the prices of goods and services (from 70% to 86%).

Republicans have become much less likely to support increasing federal 
funding for research on renewable energy, such as wind, solar, and 
hydrogen, even if it raises taxes (from 48% to 36%) or putting stricter 
limits on the amount of carbon dioxide that vehicles produce, even if it 
raises the price of cars (from 51% to 32%).
https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_18.png
*Developing a Climate Action Scale*
To better understand which groups are most willing to support climate 
change policies despite their associated costs, PRRI developed an 
additive scale that combines the six aforementioned policies into a 
single scale and normalized their values to a score between 0 and 1. A 
score of 0 indicates strong opposition to every policy, while a score of 
1 indicates strong support for every policy.[4] Examining mean scores 
for different demographic groups allows us to directly compare how 
likely a given group supports taking action on climate change, despite 
associated costs.

*Religious Affiliation*
White evangelical Protestants score lowest on the climate action scale 
(0.41) — the only major religious group to score on the lower half of 
the scale. In comparison, Latter-day Saints (0.51), other Protestants of 
color (0.51), Hispanic Protestants (0.52), and white Catholics (0.53) 
are close to the middle of the scale. Other groups of Christians of 
color and non-Christians score highest on the climate action scale, 
including Hispanic Catholics (0.60), Black Protestants (0.61), Jewish 
Americans (0.62); other non-Christian Americans (0.66), and religiously 
unaffiliated Americans (0.66).

Scores on the climate action scale increase with declining religiosity: 
those who say religion is the most important thing in their life (0.45) 
score lower than those who say religion is one among many important 
things (0.54), those who say religion is not as important (.58), and 
those who say religion is not important (.67).

*Party Affiliation and Media Trust*
Democrats (0.71) have a significantly higher score on the climate change 
scale than independents (0.56) or Republicans (0.40).

Americans who most trust far-right news outlets (0.32) or Fox News 
(0.39) score much lower on the climate action scale than those who most 
trust mainstream news outlets (0.66) or do not watch TV news (0.54).

*Generation, Race, and Education*
Younger generations score higher on the climate action scale. Members of 
Gen Z (0.61) and millennials (0.60) score similarly, while scores are 
lower among Gen X (0.54), baby boomers (0.54), and the Silent Generation 
(0.52).

Americans of color score higher than white Americans (0.55) or 
multiracial Americans (0.57) on the climate action scale, including 
Black Americans (0.60), Hispanic Americans (0.60), and AAPI Americans 
(0.63).

Americans with at least a four-year degree score higher than those who 
do not have a four-year degree on the climate action scale. Americans 
with a high school degree or less education (0.54) or some college 
experience (0.53) score similarly, as do those with a four-year degree 
(0.62) or a postgraduate degree (0.64).
https://www.prri.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/09/PRRI-Sep-2023-Climate-fig_19Alt.png
*The Climate Action Scale and Views on Climate Change*
Americans who see climate change as a key issue are more likely to have 
higher scores on the climate action scale than those who do not 
prioritize climate change. Americans who say that climate change is 
caused mostly by human activity such as burning fossil fuels (0.69) 
score significantly higher on the scale than those who say climate 
change is mostly caused by natural patterns in the earth’s environment 
(0.39), or that there is no solid evidence that climate change is 
happening (0.31).

Americans who say they would only vote for a candidate who shares their 
views on climate change (0.64) score higher than those who consider a 
candidate’s position on climate change as just one of many important 
factors when voting (0.61), or do not see climate change as an important 
issue (0.38). Similarly, those who describe climate change as a crisis 
(0.77) score higher than those who say it is a major problem (0.62), a 
minor problem (0.43), or not a problem at all (0.25). Furthermore, 
Americans who agree with the statement that the severity of recent 
natural disasters is evidence of global climate change score much higher 
on the scale than those who disagree (0.69 vs. 0.34).

/ - [1] Previous iterations of this question on PRRI surveys did not 
include the option “there is no solid evidence that climate change is 
happening;” thus, we are unable to make direct comparisons. However, 
previous trends show a growth in the percentage of Americans who view 
climate change as caused mostly by human activity, such as burning 
fossil fuels, from 64% in 2011 to 74% in 2019 when the question was last 
asked, and a decline in the percentage of those who think climate change 
is mostly caused by natural patterns in the earth’s environment, from 
32% to 25% during the same period./
https://www.prri.org/research/the-faith-factor-in-climate-change-how-religion-impacts-american-attitudes-on-climate-and-environmental-policy/



/[  from Times of Israel  - see  figure 12 above ]/
*Jews more likely than any US religious group to see climate change as 
crisis — poll*
Survey finds 32% of Jewish Americans deeply concerned about warming 
planet, though non-religiously affiliated higher than any religious group
By LUKE TRESS
5 October 2023
Jews are more concerned about climate change than other religious groups 
in the US, according to a survey released on Thursday.

The poll, conducted in June, found that 32 percent of US Jews said 
climate change was a crisis, a larger proportion than any other 
religious group surveyed.

Following Jews were Hispanic Catholics, at 31%, according to the survey 
by the nonpartisan Public Religion Research Institute...

The religious group least likely to view climate change as a crisis was 
white evangelical protestants, at 8%.

White evangelical protestants and Black protestants were the only groups 
who were less concerned about climate change this year than they were in 
2014, the survey said.

The religiously unaffiliated were more likely to view climate change as 
a crisis than those belonging to religious groups, at 43%. Overall, 27% 
of Americans believe the planet is in crisis.

The more religious people were, the less likely they were concerned 
about climate change.

For Jews, 67% said climate change was caused mostly by human activity, 
more than any group besides Hispanic Catholics and “other non-Christian 
religions.”

Twenty-eight percent of Jews said climate change was mostly caused by 
natural patterns in the earth’s environment, and 5% said there was no 
solid evidence for the phenomenon, the lowest proportion of any group.

Jews were the least likely to admit to a spiritual attachment to the 
earth, with 42% saying they felt a “deep spiritual connection with 
nature and the earth most days,” compared to 52% of all Americans.

The survey found that among all Americans, concern about climate change 
has not shifted dramatically in recent years. In 2014, 23% viewed it as 
a crisis, compared to 27% this year.

Last month was the hottest September on record, and the most anomalous 
month ever measured in terms of heat, the European climate agency 
reported Thursday.

This year is on track to be the hottest year on record and has been 
marked by catastrophes including severe wildfires, destructive floods 
and scorching heat waves.

The poll results were based on a representative sample of 5,540 US 
adults in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
https://www.timesofisrael.com/jews-more-likely-than-any-us-religious-group-to-see-climate-change-as-crisis-poll/


/[ The news archive - looking back at the propitious year of 1984 ]/
/*October 7, 1984 */
October 7, 1984: At the conclusion of his first debate with President 
Ronald Reagan, Democratic challenger and former Vice President Walter 
Mondale declares:

"I believe that we will be better off if we protect this environment. 
And contrary to what the President says, I think their record on the 
environment is inexcusable and often shameful. These laws are not being 
enforced, have not been enforced, and the public health and the air and 
the water are paying the price. That's not fair for our future.

"I think our future requires a President to lead us in an all-out search 
to advance our education, our learning, and our science and training, 
because this world is more complex and we're being pressed harder all 
the time."

(97:43-98:23)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OGvBFQQPRXs




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