Sustainability Climate Change

Most Americans want US to prioritize renewable energy, go carbon neutral by 2050: poll

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Story at a glance

  • Most Americans support a carbon neutral future and favor eco-friendly steps toward achieving that goal.
  • But a majority of Americans would like the country to employ a mix of fossil fuels and renewable energy.
  • Overall, 75 percent of Americans support the U.S.’s role in addressing climate change.

Most Americans support a carbon neutral future and favor eco-friendly steps toward achieving that goal, according to a new poll.  

A Pew Research survey found that 69 percent of Americans back President Biden’s goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2050 while the same percentage believe the U.S. should develop alternative energy sources.  

But a majority of Americans would like the country to employ a mix of fossil fuels and renewable energy, with 31 percent saying the U.S. should nix the use of oil, coal and natural gas altogether.  

Support for a carbon neutral future was also divided along partisan lines with 66 percent of moderate Republicans polled believing the nation should push for carbon neutrality by 2050 compared to 88 percent of moderate Democrats.  

Meanwhile, 49 percent who identify as moderate democrats favor cutting out fossil fuels completely while 21 percent of moderate Republicans said the same.


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Overall, 75 percent of Americans support the U.S. roll in addressing climate change as more than half said the nation should do as much or more than other countries with large economies. A little more than a third said the U.S. is currently doing more than others.  

The survey, which was conducted from Jan. 24-30, 2022, measured the online responses of 10,237 randomly selected U.S. adults.  


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