Most US voters oppose Trump climate and energy policies, with a growing share linking climate impacts to higher living costs and energy bills.
Trump climate and energy policies face broad voter opposition
A majority of US voters disagree with Trump climate and energy policies and believe the worsening climate crisis is already pushing up the cost of living.
The Yale survey on Trump climate and energy policies
A clear majority of registered US voters opposes measures taken by the current administration to dismantle climate research and halt wind power projects. An overwhelming share is also against Washington’s withdrawal from the Paris Agreement. In fact, 77 percent say the United States should participate in the Paris climate accord. These findings come from a survey conducted in November 2025 by Yale University.
The poll is based on responses from a representative sample of the US adult population. It outlines how registered voters perceive national climate and energy policies.
What Trump climate and energy policies have done so far
Since taking office, President Trump has systematically rolled back key environmental regulations, dismissed federal scientists, restricted public access to climate information, and openly backed the fossil fuel industry. He has publicly described renewable energy as a major scam, including in speeches at the United Nations, and has actively worked to block several solar and wind projects.
Voters support renewable energy on public lands
This agenda appears deeply unpopular across the electorate. Seventy five percent of registered voters support renewable energy production on public lands in the United States. Nearly eight in ten oppose restrictions on climate information and research. Sixty five percent disagree with Trump’s decision to halt new offshore wind projects, and the same share believes Trump climate and energy policies are weighing on the cost of living and utility bills.
Global warming as a voting issue
According to the survey, 59 percent of registered voters would prefer to vote for a candidate who supports concrete action to address global warming. Forty one percent say they want candidates to provide more information about efforts to reduce climate change.
Looking ahead to the 2026 midterm elections, 28 percent say they will only vote for a candidate who supports expanding renewable energy, while 26 percent would only back candidates committed to reducing fossil fuel use. Thirty five percent consider global warming a very important issue in deciding how to vote for Congress. For 61 percent of registered voters, the development of clean energy sources should be a high priority for both the President and Congress.
By contrast, only 21 percent of conservative Republicans would support a candidate opposed to climate protection, while 37 percent would prefer a candidate who takes the opposite stance. “Looking at the long term trajectory, there has been a major increase in the share of Americans who believe climate change should be a priority for the President and Congress,” said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of Yale’s Program on Climate Change Communication, speaking to The Guardian. “Among Republicans, however, that percentage has remained largely unchanged.”
Policies to cut pollution from global warming
Most registered voters support policies aimed at reducing carbon pollution and promoting clean energy. Eighty seven percent favor federal funding to help farmers improve soil conservation and restoration practices that increase carbon storage. Seventy seven percent support increased funding for renewable energy research. Sixty six percent back transitioning the US economy away from fossil fuels and reaching 100 percent clean energy by 2050.
Clean energy infrastructure in local communities
Many voters support building clean energy infrastructure in their own areas. Solar farms receive 57 percent support, wind farms 53 percent, and electric vehicle charging stations 49 percent, according to the Yale survey. Support is lowest for new nuclear power plants, at 36 percent.
Protecting people from environmental harm
Ninety two percent of registered voters support requiring companies to protect workers from dangerous heat extremes. Eighty percent back stronger enforcement of industrial pollution limits in low income and non white communities that are already disproportionately affected by air and water pollution.
Public information on global warming
Seventy seven percent of voters oppose the Trump administration’s decision to stop providing public information on global warming. The same share opposes requiring federal agencies to halt climate research. Seventy three percent believe schools should include the causes, impacts, and potential solutions to global warming in their curricula.
Go to the Yale University survey.
