Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World
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Majorities of Americans say the United States should prioritize the development of renewable energy sources and take steps toward the country becoming carbon neutral by the year 2050. But just 31% want to phase out fossil fuels completely, and many foresee unexpected problems in a major transition to renewable energy.
Among Republicans, support for increasing reliance on solar power is down from 84% last year to 73% today.
A small but significant share of car owners in the U.S. have traded filling up for plugging in, and many more are thinking of joining them.
A median of 69% of adults across 20 global publics we surveyed are in favor of expanding the use of natural gas.
As the debate resurfaces over drilling in the wildlife refuge, here are some facts about Americans’ views of expanded oil and gas drilling.
Solar and wind power use has grown rapidly in the past decade, but as of 2018 those sources accounted for under 4% of all energy used in the U.S.
More Americans now oppose than favor allowing more offshore oil and gas drilling in U.S. waters. Americans who live close to a coastline are less supportive of expanding offshore drilling than those who live farther from a coast.
Americans lean toward regulations – not economic markets alone – as the most effective way to increase reliance on renewable energy, but they are evenly split on whether fewer regulations can protect air and water.
Almost nine-in-ten U.S. adults (89%) favor expanding use of solar power, while only 9% oppose it. Western homeowners are particularly likely to say they have already installed or are considering solar panels at home.
Two-thirds of Americans say people will have to make major changes in the way they live to reduce the effects of climate change, but data on how much people have actually adopted several recommended lifestyle changes paints a very mixed picture.
