Public Opinion on Energy & Climate

To get at the heart of the public’s views on a number of energy and climate change issues up for debate, EPIC partners with The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research to conduct annual public opinion polls.

The latest EPIC/AP-NORC poll finds that Americans express higher levels of concern over AI’s environmental impact than that of cryptocurrencies, meat production, or air travel. Overall, Americans continue to be open to purchasing an electric vehicle and are motivated by potential long-term savings, though many are deterred by high upfront costs. Meanwhile, most say that the federal government should have a role in addressing climate change and view expanding clean energy, enforcing clean air and water protections, and protecting land and wildlife as important.

What else have the EPIC/AP-NORC polls gleaned about public opinion on climate change and energy?

All 2025 Charts      2025 Fact Sheets      Full 2025 Poll Results

Despite the federal government’s retreat from climate policy, this poll demonstrates that support for climate action remains meaningful and largely unchanged. We find that Americans are, on average, willing to pay about $30 a month on their energy bills to combat climate change, similar to 2023 but down slightly from 2024. Additionally, most still want regulations to limit emissions from power plants and vehicles. They want funding for states to help cope with the impacts of extreme weather. And they want to expand clean energy, not fossil fuel production. So, it seems that policy is moving away from people’s preferences.

—Michael Greenstone
Milton Friedman Distinguished Service Professor in Economics; Director, EPIC

Americans’ Attitudes on Climate Change

• Most believe climate change is happening, and about 1/2 say it’s human driven—with a notable increase among Republicans, driven by those <45. In 2017, 26% of both young and old Republicans believed in human-driven climate change. Now, 29% of older and 42% of young Republicans believe this.
• Those who experienced extreme weather are more likely to believe it’s caused by human-driven climate change and that the federal government should take steps to reduce emissions and help communities adapt.
• While about 3/4 of Americans believe the federal government should provide aid and help communities rebuild following a natural disaster, only about 1/4 have confidence in FEMA’s ability to do so.

Americans’ Views on Climate and Energy Policy

• Energy and climate policy are nearly aligned with immigration in importance to Americans. About 1/2 consider the three issues to be very important.
• Fewer than 1/4 of Americans, and fewer than 1/3 of Republicans, support the roll back of environmental rules and withdrawal from global climate agreements. Most Americans support protecting conservation lands and wildlife and enforcing clean air and water rules.
• More than 1/2 say expanding clean energy is important, while about 1/4 say the same about expanding fossil fuels. 1/2 of young Republicans say it is important to expand clean energy (vs. 35%), while 80% of older Republicans support expanding oil and gas production (vs. 39%).
• Most are unwilling to pay a monthly carbon fee, but 56% say companies should pay a carbon tax. They also say individuals bear the least and companies/government the most responsibility to address climate change.

Americans’ Views on Electric Vehicles

• 8 in 10 Americans say the cost of EVs is keeping them from buying one. This, along with range, preferring a gas engine vehicle, charging time, and availability of charging stations are the top purchasing barriers.
• More than 1/2 say tax breaks would be motivation for buying an EV, following gas and maintenance savings and reducing personal impact on climate change.
• Most would rather pay more for an American-made EV than a cheaper one made in China—though, they begin to waver at higher price differences of $5,000 or $10,000. They’re less willing to pay more than they were in 2024.

Americans’ Views on the Environmental Impact of Artificial Intelligence

• 41% are very concerned about the environmental impacts of AI—more than cryptocurrency (29%), meat production (29%) or air travel (23%).
• 2 in 5 feel AI will do more to hurt than help society overall, while about 1/3 feel similarly about the impact on the economy and environment.
• Those who live in rural areas—where data centers powering AI are typically built—are less likely to think AI will do more to help the environment, the economy, society at large, or themselves personally.

More on the 2025 Poll…