Elected officials often misjudge how much the public supports climate policies, which can lead to fewer clean energy projects and weaker climate action.
In short:
- Recent studies have shown that politicians have a misconception about the popularity of ambitious climate action, deeming it much less popular than it really is
- By underestimating public support for climate policies, they slow down crucial environmental initiatives.
- This disconnect can be tied to several reasons, including how fossil fuel interests often use misleading tactics to influence lawmakers' perceptions of public opinion.
Key quote:
“There’s this enormous effort by the industry to shape what politicians think the public wants.”
— Matto Mildenberger, political science professor, UC Santa Barbara.
Why this matters:
Despite a growing number of people demanding serious steps to combat climate change, many elected officials — especially those with deep pockets from fossil fuel interests — still believe climate action is a fringe issue. This misperception isn’t just frustrating; it keeps meaningful legislation from passing and lets big polluters off the hook. Read more: House Speaker Mike Johnson’s climate change playbook — deny the science, take the funding.
