(RestoreAmericanGlory.com) – According to a recent survey conducted by NPR/PBS NewsHour/Marist, there’s a clear division in priorities between Republicans and Democrats concerning the economy and climate change.
The poll, released on Thursday, shows that 72% of Republicans believe the focus should be on the economy, even if that means overlooking climate change. This figure marks an increase from the 59% of Republicans who felt the same way in 2018.
On the other side of the spectrum, 80% of Democrats believe that the priority should be addressing climate change, even if it slows down economic growth. This percentage remains relatively consistent with the numbers from 2018.
The recent increase in Republicans prioritizing the economy over the environment affects the overall sentiment of Americans. Despite this shift, the majority of the population still sees climate change as a crucial issue.
In the latest poll, 53% of Americans believe that climate change needs to be tackled as a priority, compared to 44% who prioritize economic growth. This is a change from 2018, when the split was 58% for climate change and 34% for economic growth.
Interestingly, the shift in opinion comes at a time when the world is experiencing unprecedented environmental challenges, including record-breaking heat waves and other natural disasters partially attributed to climate change.
Lee Miringoff, the Director of the Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, noted that while climate change appears to be increasingly seen through a partisan lens, a majority of people are still concerned about its effects on their communities.
The survey further reveals that most Americans acknowledge climate change as a real threat. 62% of respondents claim it impacts their local communities, while 56% view it as a “major” threat, and 55% say it’s causing “serious” effects.
Nevertheless, political divisions are apparent in responses to more localized questions about climate change. 61% of Republicans don’t perceive significant impacts on their communities, with 43% denying any serious effect and 37% considering it only a “minor” threat.
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