New survey data from the progressive polling firm Data for Progress reveals that a significant portion of American voters are attributing worsening extreme weather to climate change. The poll found that 61% of likely voters believe extreme weather events have increased in frequency over the past five years, including 72% of Democrats, 63% of Independents, and 46% of Republicans.
When asked about specific weather phenomena, majorities of respondents linked climate change to worsening conditions across multiple categories. Heatwaves topped the list at 67% of respondents, followed by wildfires at 64%, droughts at 63%, flooding at 62%, hurricanes at 59%, and severe thunderstorms at 59%. Notably, 48% of Republicans attributed worsening heatwaves to climate change, the highest share among Republicans for any weather event surveyed.
Researchers suggested that the broad public recognition of heat-related impacts may stem from the fact that high temperatures affect nearly all Americans regardless of geography. Heat-related deaths exceed those from hurricanes, tornadoes, and floods combined in the United States annually. Climate communication experts noted the findings are consistent with other recent surveys showing Americans increasingly connecting extreme weather to climate patterns.
The polling also revealed significant bipartisan support for worker protections against extreme heat. Approximately 88% of survey participants favored state-level policies requiring employers to provide heat protections including access to drinking water, shade, breaks, and air conditioning, with only 7% expressing opposition. This broad consensus suggests potential for policy action on heat-related workplace safety, an area where progress has faced obstacles in recent years.
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