Voters See Climate Change as a Threat to the American Dream, Even as Cost‑of‑Living Tops Concerns
A new poll finds 58 % of likely U.S. voters think a warming climate will hinder their ability to achieve or maintain the American Dream over the next two decades.
The Trump administration has framed the “American Dream” as a reason to roll back climate policies, but a fresh poll shows most voters see climate change itself as a danger to that dream.
Poll Findings on Climate and the American Dream
Data for Progress conducted an exclusive survey for Grist of 1,167 likely U.S. voters between April 24 and 27, 2026. The results show that 58 % of respondents believe a warming climate will hinder their ability to achieve or maintain the American Dream over the next 20 years. This sentiment includes 42 % of Republican voters.
Grace Adcox, senior climate strategist at the progressive think tank, said the poll identifies a strong concern about climate change as a threat to achieving the American Dream.
Cost of Living Tops Immediate Concerns
The same survey found that more than half of likely voters cite the cost of living as the greatest threat to the American Dream today, aligning with other polls and reports on rising inflation. An Investopedia analysis estimated that the typical components of the American Dream now total about $5.3 million per household. Only 2 % of voters named climate change and extreme weather as the central threat.
Why Climate Change Ranks High for Future Worries
Despite ranking low among current top threats, climate change is perceived as a future cost driver. Over half of respondents are “very worried” that climate change will make life more expensive in the next two decades, a higher share than those worried about warmer temperatures, extreme weather, crop failures, or degraded natural areas.
An MIT study earlier this year found U.S. families are paying between $400 and $900 more annually because of global warming, with the hardest‑hit counties seeing costs exceed $1,000. These added expenses stem from higher utility bills and rising insurance premiums.
Voter Attitudes Toward Climate Policies
When asked to choose a phrase that best captured their view of climate policies, only 6 % of participants selected “an expensive burden on working people.” Even Republican respondents did not favor that description, instead seeing climate action as a distraction or based on faulty information.
The most popular choice across the poll was “a critical step to protect our environment.” Adcox noted that this suggests voters may be less swayed by rhetoric framing climate action as a financial sacrifice.
Political Context Ahead of Midterms
Climate advocacy groups are emphasizing high energy costs as a key issue for voters in battleground districts ahead of the upcoming midterm elections. They argue that wind and solar power offer cheaper energy and that President Trump’s efforts to block offshore wind farms and slow renewable projects could raise costs.
President Trump, in his January 2025 inaugural address, pledged that “the American Dream will soon be back and thriving like never before,” linking that promise to the rollback of emissions reporting, vehicle emissions rules, and coal deregulation.
Overall, the poll reveals a nuanced picture: while immediate economic pressures dominate voter concerns, a majority still view climate change as a significant long‑term threat to achieving the American Dream.
