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• As US Climate Rules Are Repealed, Americans Say Government and Business Must Act

  

  Key Takeaways

  • Public backing for government climate action is strong. Eight in ten Americans say the government should take responsibility for addressing climate change, including a majority who say it should do “a great deal.” Support spans party affiliation, including roughly 85 percent of Democrats and 76 percent of Republicans who say the government has at least “some” responsibility.
  • Americans also expect companies to step up. Most Americans also believe that companies have some responsibility, although slightly fewer than those who hold the government responsible.
  • Regulatory retreat heightens expectations for non‑government leadership. As federal climate authority weakens, Americans may increasingly look to companies to help fill the leadership gap.

  At a moment when federal authority over greenhouse‑gas emissions is being rolled back through recent regulatory and court actions in the USA, public opinion is moving in the opposite direction. Our latest GlobeScan data show that Americans want more climate leadership, not less. Eight in ten Americans believe the government holds some responsibility to address climate change, including a majority who say it holds “a great deal” of responsibility. This view crosses party lines, standing in contrast to recent decisions that weaken national emissions standards and limit federal climate authority. Even among Republicans, support for government responsibility remains substantial. The public also sees business as a critical counterweight when government action falters. Nearly eight in ten Americans also say companies are at least somewhat responsible for finding climate solutions. This expectation also holds across political leanings, underscoring a broad belief that corporate silence on climate change or opposition to regulations protecting the environment are no longer acceptable. 

  WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

  Americans overwhelmingly support climate action and view federal leadership as essential, even amid legal uncertainty. Efforts to weaken climate rules may clash with a public that mostly sees climate change as a real, present risk that requires a national response. As federal climate leadership becomes less certain, public pressure on companies is likely to intensify. Americans are granting business a clear social license to advocate for climate policy, invest in emissions reductions, and support regulation instead of undermining it. In this environment, staying silent carries reputational and trust risks, while visible leadership aligns with public sentiment.

  This analysis is based on a representative online survey of over 30,000 people across 33 markets tracked over time, including the USA. It draws upon GlobeScan’s extensive global public opinion research which spans more than two decades of insights.

  Survey Question: How much do you hold each of the following responsible to address climate change? – The Government – Companies

  Countries surveyed: USA

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