Voters disapprove of Trump’s enviro policies — poll

Source: Nick Bowlin, E&E News reporter • Posted: Friday, June 30, 2017

Voters are not pleased with the Trump administration’s environmental stances, according to a new nationwide poll from the League of Conservation Voters.

Fifty percent of voters had an unfavorable opinion of what they have heard about President Trump’s environmental polices. Twenty-seven percent approved.

Fifty-six percent of people surveyed disapproved of Trump’s decision to exit the Paris climate agreement, compared to 34 percent in favor. Independents opposed the move 59 to 24 percent.

“As the Trump administration continues to unravel essential protections for public health and our nation’s progress toward building a clean energy economy, voters are paying attention — and they’re not pleased,” said LCV President Gene Karpinski in a statement.

The poll also found more than half of voters would view unfavorably a lawmaker who supported leaving the Paris deal and either a budget cut to U.S. EPA or a cut to renewable energy initiatives.

“Members of Congress should take note as they vote on budget cuts that favor polluters over public health and take an axe to clean energy innovation,” Karpinski said. “Standing with the Trump administration is standing with the dirty energy of the past, and voters don’t want to take our climate policy backwards.”

The polling revealed some knowledge gaps regarding national climate and environmental policy. About three-fourths, or 73 percent, had “heard at least some” about leaving Paris and 46 percent heard “a lot” about it.

And for Trump’s proposed 31 percent proposed funding cut for EPA, 52 percent of respondents had heard at least some information about the budget, and a quarter had heard “a lot.”

The poll, conducted by Garin-Hart-Yang Research Group, a firm with Democratic ties, and Global Strategy Group, surveyed 1,000 presidential-year voters from June 14-18.

It had a 3.2 percentage point margin of error. The self-reported 2016 presidential vote was 49 percent for Democrat Hillary Clinton and 47 percent for Trump.

Energy industry groups often point to other polls showing public support for their priorities. Critics of LCV and other environmental interests also say green advocacy doesn’t always translate to support at the ballot box.

The National Mining Association yesterday touted a poll by Morning Consult of 1,980 registered voters from June 20-21 that found 59 percent of respondents wanted an all-of-the-above energy policy that included coal.