Dr. Conca says it looks like they might. Young people voted in record numbers this election. About 31% of people aged 18 to 29 voted in the midterms this year, a significant increase from 21% in 2014 and is the highest level since 1992. Nationally, voters aged 18 to 39 have nearly tripled their early voting rate since 2014. That's increased their share of the early vote by more than three percentage points. The early voting share of voters aged 50 to 64, meanwhile, has fallen by more than 2.5 percentage points. The share of those 65 and older has fallen nearly five points. In the wake of the new Fourth National Climate Assessment released by the Trump Administration, how this burgeoning voter block views environmental and climate issues will become more and more important as the next decade plays out.
The Assessment outlined how the dire effects of global warming are already here and pose a profound threat to Americans’ well-being, especially to this age group and those even younger. Inspire, a clean energy technology company, performed a survey of 1,000 U.S. young adults ages 18 to 25 and found that:
- 59% of young Americans consider themselves climate activists,
- 77% said environmental issues are more important to them now than they were just 2 years ago,
- 85% believe we could be doing more at the federal level to support clean energy,
- 79% have taken action in the last 12 months in regard to environmental issues, including making a lifestyle change (46%) and volunteering on their own (35%),
- 52% strongly agree that we need to use technology to help the environment,
- 74% agree that the Trump Administration is creating policies that negatively impact the environment, and
- 57% are likely to pursue a job focused on the environment
So, yes, this fastest growing voting block in America is definitely concentrating on the environment. The more this group of voters vote in upcoming elections, the more their voices will shape how we address environmental and climate threats in this century. Surveys of attitudes towards nuclear power indicates a general favorability of all age groups, but males aged 18-34 have the highest approval at 73%. Separate surveys have also looked at how our youth is changing its attitudes on nuclear power.
According to the most recent survey on nuclear by Bisconti Research, males aged 18-34 have the highest approval of nuclear at 73%, although all age groups show a general favorability (see figure). This is relevant because the world’s top climate scientists, including Dr. James Hansen, have all urged world leaders to support and expand nuclear energy, as we will not make a sufficient dent in fossil fuel use without it. Young people are optimistic in new nuclear designs and generally do not have the old negative ideological ideas about nuclear left over from the Cold War. Of course, if every eligible voter actually voted we would have a very different world.
I am definitely looking forward to 2020.
Original working URL: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2018/12/06/will-our-youth-force-environmental-and-climate-issues-into-the-ballot-box/#7b20873f793f
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