WASHINGTON, DC — Republican voters are motivated by climate solutions that leverage the strength and efficiency of the U.S. economy to lower global emissions. That’s according to recent polling from the Climate Leadership Council and Americans for Carbon Dividends, who set out to understand how Republicans feel about climate and what a meaningful conservative agenda could look like. According to previously released results, 54% of Republican voters polled—including 71% of voters ages 18 to 34—believe it’s important for their member of Congress to work to address climate change.
New findings show the driving forces behind Republican voter support for climate policy are global accountability, out-competing rivals, and U.S. economic strength. Among Republican voters polled:
- 76% agree “smart climate policy would reward American businesses and workers for their lower carbon emissions while penalizing the biggest global polluters.”
- More than a 3:1 margin support a border carbon adjustment policy to charge a fee on imported goods based on the carbon emitted during their production. 60% of self-described “very conservative” voters supported this idea.
- 77% are in favor of working with U.S. allies to penalize products made by high carbon pollution countries.
“For Republican voters, the climate challenge is a global issue that offers American manufacturers an opportunity to out-compete the world’s biggest polluters,” said Steve Rice, managing director of Americans for Carbon Dividends. “Republicans want to see climate solutions that hold high-emitting countries like China and Russia accountable.”
“Republicans – especially young Republicans – are making their support for U.S. climate leadership increasingly clear,” said Greg Bertelsen, CEO of the Climate Leadership Council. “Policies like a border carbon adjustment hold broad appeal with Republican voters as a means to reward efficient U.S. businesses, hold high emitters accountable, and reduce global emissions.”
The poll of 1,000 high propensity, reliable Republican voters was conducted by Moore Information Group from Sept. 16-19, 2022.
Americans for Carbon Dividends (AFCD) is a national education and advocacy campaign that promotes a bipartisan climate solution where all sides win.
The Climate Leadership Council works with a broad set of stakeholders to promote the most cost-effective, equitable, and politically-viable climate solutions.