With leading Democratic candidates making climate change a key national security point in their 2020 campaigns, and Republicans shying away from calling it a U.S. priority, the issue is likely to remain divisive in the national discourse before 2020 election.
A Pew Research report confirmed the trend along party lines, although more Americans now see global climate change a major threat to the well-being of the United States – up from 40% in 2013 to 57% this year.
The Pew surveys show the concern has largely risen among Democrats while position on the issue among Republicans remains largely unchanged.
The differences between Democratic and Republican leaders on climate change or global warming have accentuated under President Donald Trump, who pulled the United States out of 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
As recently as July 2019, the Pew Center finds that 84% of Democrats and Democratic leaders say climate change is a major threat to the country’s well-being as of July 2019, up from 58% in a March 2013 survey.
Republicans and Republican leaning leaders have shown no significant change in their positions – 22% in 2013 and 27% in 2019.
But how far climate change will shape the political debate remains unclear.
An array of ongoing issues like immigration, economy and the U.S. foreign policy continue to draw much of the attention of American voters and the media platforms.
That remains the case despite several recent natural disasters and warnings from scientists.
Illustrations above: PEW RESEARCH CENTER
