--- title: "Two ‘Varietals’ of Green-Oriented Americans" description: "While some Americans are both “climate engaged” and “everyday environmentalists,” each group has a distinctive profile." date: "2016-11-17" authors: - name: "No Author" url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/11/17/two-varietals-of-green-oriented-americans/" categories: - "Climate, Energy & Environment" - "Political Issues" --- # Two ‘Varietals’ of Green-Oriented Americans A new [Pew Research Center survey](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2016/10/04/the-politics-of-climate/) finds some 36% of Americans are deeply concerned about the issue of global climate change. Additionally, two-in-ten Americans try to live out their concern for the environment "all the time." ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/11124829/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_intro-large__560.png) Climate-engaged Everyday environmentalists Those who care a great deal about the issue of climate change Those who try to live in ways that protect the environment all of the time 36% 20% ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/11130401/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_intro-medium__350.png) Climate- engaged Everyday environmentalists Those who care a great deal about the issue of climate change Those who try to live in ways that protect the environment all of the time 36% 20% ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/11124855/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_intro-small__280.png) Climate- engaged Everyday environmentalists Those who care a great deal about the issue of climate change Those who try to live in ways that protect the environment all of the time 36% 20% And while some Americans are both "climate engaged" and "everyday environmentalists," each group has a distinctive profile. ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/04121441/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_110416_venn-large__500.png) Both Climate-engaged Everyday environmentalists 24% 8% 12% ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/04121428/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_110416_venn-medium__280.png) Everyday environmentalists Climate-engaged Both 24% 8% 12% ![](https://legacy.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/9/2016/11/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_110416_venn-small__200.png) Everyday environ- mentalists Climate- engaged Both 24% 8% 12% [![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/11/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_leafDividers.webp)](https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2016/11/17/two-varietals-of-green-oriented-americans/pi_climateenergyenvironment_information-graphic_leafdividers/) Most climate-engaged Americans believe the Earth is warming due to human activity. By contrast, everyday environmentalists' beliefs closely match those of the U.S. population as a whole. ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/10/31122751/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_earthWarming-large__500.png) 76% 51 48 Climate- engaged Everyday environ- mentalists U.S. adults ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/11100350/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_earthWarming-medium__280.png) 76% 51 48 U.S. adults Climate- engaged Everyday environ- mentalists ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/11100222/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_earthWarming-small__200.png) 76% 51 48 U.S. adults Climate- engaged Everyday environ- mentalists Americans who care a great deal about climate change are predominantly Democrats or independents who lean toward the Democratic Party, while everyday environmentalists include a mix of Republicans and Democrats that aligns with the share in the overall population. The climate-engaged also skew younger, while everyday environmentalists are disproportionately older. ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/01135429/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_generations-large__600.png) Climate-engaged Everyday environmentalists U.S. adults 63 44% 44 35% 30 26 21% 20 16 Millennial Boomer or older Millennial Boomer or older Millennial Boomer or older Gen X Gen X Gen X ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/01135456/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_generations-medium__340.png) Climate- engaged Everyday environmentalists U.S. adults 63 44% 44 35% 30 26 21% 20 16 Mill. Gen X Boom. or older Mill. Gen X Boom. or older Mill. Gen X Boom. or older ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/10174050/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_generations-small__200.png) Climate- engaged Everyday environ- mentalists U.S. adults 63 44 44 35% 30 26 21 20 16 Millennial Gen X Boomer or older Millennial Gen X Boomer or older Millennial Gen X Boomer or older [![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/11/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_leafDividers.webp?w=280)](https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2016/11/17/two-varietals-of-green-oriented-americans/pi_climateenergyenvironment_information-graphic_leafdividers/) Both tend to have like-minded friends and family. About half (53%) of those who always try to live in ways that protect the environment all the time and 40% of those who care a great deal about climate change say that most of their close friends and family always try to help the environment. By comparison, 26% of all U.S. adults say the same. ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/01171832/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_friends-large__520.png) 36 Some 40% 45 53 Most 40% 26 Climate- engaged Everyday environ- mentalists U.S. adults ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/11105648/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_friends-medium__300.png) 36 40% Some 45 53 40% Most 26 Climate- engaged Everyday environ- mentalists U.S. adults ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/11/11105634/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_friends-small__200.png) 36 40% Some 45 53 40% Most 26 Climate- engaged Everyday environ- mentalists U.S. adults Despite these differences, both groups of Americans are equally likely as the general public to have spent time hiking, camping, hunting or fishing in the past year; they are also about equally likely to have spent time tending to plants in public parks or other public spaces. And while everyday environmentalists are modestly more likely to have participated in a park clean-up day, they are no more likely than the climate-engaged or other Americans to reduce and reuse at home by composting, having a rain barrel or growing their own vegetables. ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/10/31131654/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_activities-large__560.png) Everyday environmentalists Climate-engaged U.S. adults Taken a hike in a park or outdoor setting 56% 52% 50% Tended a vegetable garden 36 32 34 Been hunting or fishing 19 19 21 Been camping overnight 18 14 16 Participated in a clean-up day 14 23 14 Tended public space planting 12 13 10 ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/10/31131645/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_activities-medium__420.png) Climate-engaged 56% Taken a hike in a park or outdoor setting Everyday environmentalists 52% U.S. adults 50% 36 Tended a vegetable garden 32 34 19 Been hunting or fishing 19 21 18 Been camping overnight 14 16 14 Participated in a clean-up day 23 14 12 Tended public space planting 13 10 ![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/14/2016/10/31131619/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_103116_activities-small__280.png) Climate-engaged Everyday environmentalists U.S. adults Taken a hike in a park or outdoor setting 56% 52% 50% 36 Tended a vegetable garden 32 34 19 Been hunting or fishing 19 21 18 Been camping overnight 14 16 14 Participated in a clean-up day 23 14 12 Tended public space planting 13 10 [![](https://www.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/20/2016/11/PI_ClimateEnergyEnvironment_information-graphic_leafDividers.webp?w=280)](https://www.pewresearch.org/science/2016/11/17/two-varietals-of-green-oriented-americans/pi_climateenergyenvironment_information-graphic_leafdividers/)