A new poll from Data for Progress and Fossil Free Media finds that more American voters are experiencing climate disasters firsthand and watching their costs rise — and they want to make polluters pay.
This year brought record-breaking heat domes across the central and eastern U.S., catastrophic flash floods in Texas that swept away homes and devastated communities, and destructive wildfires in Southern California that leveled thousands of homes.
These disasters are becoming more frequent and are driving up costs that average families are forced to bear. As momentum for the Make Polluters Pay campaign grows, and states like New York and Vermont have passed “climate superfund” laws requiring polluting industries to pay for climate damages, the federal government is moving to strike down these measures and shield polluters from accountability.
Key Findings
Most believe these events are becoming more frequent. Voters are especially concerned about rising insurance rates, with many expecting climate change to impact everyday costs like utilities and groceries.
Personal Experience with Extreme Weather
When voters were asked about extreme weather:
- 45% report experiencing extreme heat waves in the last five years;
- About 3 in 10 experienced flooding or flash flooding; and
- In oversampled states, impacts are especially clear: About half of North Carolina and Texas voters report flooding experience, while nearly 4 in 5 Floridians experienced hurricanes.
Expected Financial Impacts
A majority believe both climate change (56%) and fossil fuel pollution (52%) will directly affect household finances. Among those expecting impacts, large majorities point to:
- Higher utility bills (73%)
- Grocery bills (68%)
- Gas prices (65%)
- Health care, housing, and property maintenance costs
State results mirror partisan patterns, with voters in Illinois and Virginia more likely to expect financial impacts than those in Texas, Florida, and North Carolina.
Voters Demand Climate Superfund Legislation
An overwhelming majority of voters want climate superfund laws that require oil and gas companies to pay their fair share of climate damages. Support is remarkably strong across both framings tested, including a cost-sharing framing (Split A) and a recovery fund framing (Split B):
- More than three-quarters of all voters support climate superfund legislation (Split A: 77%, Split B: 78%)
- Nearly 9 in 10 Democrats are on board (Split A: 89%, Split B: 89%)
- Around 4 in 5 Independents back these measures (Split A: 78%, Split B: 80%)
- Around two-thirds of Republicans support making polluters pay (Split A: 64%, Split B: 66%)
From Texas (73%) to Florida (80%), voters in every state we surveyed support their leaders passing these laws. This represents a surge in support from just last year, when 66% backed similar measures. The momentum is clear: Americans are ready for polluter accountability.
