MAJORITY OF US VOTERS LINK EXTREME WEATHER TO CLIMATE CHANGE

According to a survey by Data for Progress, a progressive polling firm, approximately 61% of likely American voters believe extreme weather events have become more frequent over the past five years. The survey found that 72% of Democrats, 63% of Independents and 46% of Republicans hold this view. The polling was conducted amid a summer marked by dangerous heat, drought and floods across the United States.

When asked whether specific forms of extreme weather are being worsened by climate change, majorities of respondents linked climate change to worsening wildfires (64%), droughts (63%), flooding and flash flooding (62%), hurricanes (59%), and severe thunderstorms and hailstorms (59%). Heatwaves topped the list, with 67% of respondents saying climate change is making them worse, including 48% of Republicans—the highest share for any extreme weather event surveyed. Grace Adcox, senior climate strategist at Data for Progress, suggested that widespread personal experience of unusually hot days or weeks in recent years may account for the high figure on heatwaves.

Sheldon Whitehouse, senator for Rhode Island, said the findings demonstrate that "the public is way ahead of the politicians on the dire consequences of climate change". Whitehouse has previously criticised Democrats for reducing their public discussion of global warming. The findings emerge as Donald Trump has characterised global heating as a "con job" and a "hoax". Adcox noted that the data may indicate attempts to suppress or polarise climate concerns have not achieved full success in shifting public opinion.