Millennials & Climate Action

NextGen Climate May 2015

Understanding the Millennial Generation

4  in  10  Millennials  are  non-­‐white  

Source:  “Interac.ve  –  A  Portrait  of  Five  Genera.ons.”  Pew  Research–  Census  Current  Popula.on  Surveys.  Feb  2010.  

More  millennial  women  in  college  than  men  

Source:  “Interac.ve  –  A  Portrait  of  Five  Genera.ons.”  Pew  Research–  Census  Current  Popula.on  Surveys.  Feb  2010.    

28%  

39%  

49%  

51%  

19%  

36%  

53%  

62%  

0%   10%   20%   30%   40%   50%   60%   70%  

Silent  

Boomers  

Xers  

Millennials  

College  Degree  or  Some  College  Women   Men  

+11  

+4  

-­‐3  

-­‐9  

Gender  Educa+on  

Gap  

Be@er  Off  

Same  

Millennials  are  opDmisDc  about  the  future  

Source:  PNA/YEF  Na.onal  Online  Survey  of  2,004  Millennial  Adults,  Age  18-­‐32.  March  30  –  April  3,  2014.  

Greens  are  aspira.onal  Reds  are  skep.cal  

Based on your own experiences, how true are the following statements?

%  True  

Millennials  hold  simultaneously  aspiraDonal    and  skepDcal  views  of  the  world  

Source:  PNA/YEF  Na.onal  Online  Survey  of  2,004  Millennial  Adults,  Age  18-­‐32.  March  30  –  April  3,  2014.  

“Humor  Me”  

•  86%  of  Millennials  share  sense  of  humor  with  their  friends  

– Only  45%  say  they  share  same  poli.cal  views  

•  55%  want  poli.cians  to  show  their  sense  of  humor  more  

•  More  want  to  know  a  poli.cian’s  favorite  comedian  (40%)  than  sports  team  (33%)  or  band  (27%)  

Source:  Comedy  Central.  (Oct  2012).  Millennial  TRU  Insights  &  Insight  Research.  

New  Media  Dominates,  But  Not  Trusted  

Ypulse.  Millennials  and  News,  Fact-­‐Checked.  May,  2013.  haps://www.ypulse.com/post/view/millennials-­‐and-­‐news-­‐fact-­‐checked    

Less  TrusDng  

Source:  Pew  Research  Center.  General  Social  Survey  Data  1987-­‐2012.  (May  2014).  

Millennial Politics

Millennials  are  the  Most  DemocraDc    Older  Millennials  and  non-­‐whites  are  more  Democra9c  

Among  Black  and  Hispanics,  18-­‐25  are  the  least  DemocraDc  

Source:  A  Deep  Dive  Into  Party  Affilia.on.  Pew  Research.  Apr  2015.  

37%

60%

54%

57%

46%

46%

40%

71%

87%

87%

83%

82%

76%

76%

Average of all 20 progressive policy stands tested

Guarantee women equal pay as men for the same work

Lower interest rates on student loan debt

Require criminal background checks before anyone can buy a gun – including at gun

Increase funding for public education

Increase the minimum wage to $10 an hour over the next couple years

Make tuition free at community colleges

Strongly  Favor   Somewhat  Favor  

Millennials  are  overwhelmingly  supporDve  of  progressive  policies    

Do  you  favor  or  oppose  the  following  issue  stands?  

Survey:  Na+onal  Millennial  Adults,  Age  18-­‐31.  n=2,004.  (Apr  2014).    Harstad  Strategic  Research  Inc..  Project  New  America  &  Youth  Engagement  Fund.  Public  Release  May  15,  2014.    

Opportunities & Challenges on Climate

43%  28%  

41%   35%   32%   39%  22%  

36%  

64%   59%  55%   55%  

Millennial   Gen  X   Boomer   Silent  

Yes  –  solid  evidence    Yes  –  because  of  human  ac.vity  No  –  not  solid  evidence    

Millennials  believe  earth  is  warming  more  than  older  generaDons  “Is  there  solid  evidence  the  earth  is  warming?”  

The  Genera+on  Gap  and  the  2012  Elec+on.  Pew  Research  Center.  Public  Release  Nov  3,  2011.    

In  2015  Pew  survey,  6  in  10  age  18-­‐29  say  earth  is  warmer  because  of  human  acDvity  compared  to  only  35%  over  age  65  

26%  39%   32%   39%   38%  

68%  76%  

69%  80%   79%  

Millennials  favor  government  acDon  on  climate  &  renewable  energy  

Agree  climate  change  will  seriously  harm  our  genera.on  

Government  should  do  more    

to  protect  environment  from  pollu.on  

Government    should  do  more    

to  address  climate  change  

Favor  requiring  1/3  renewables  like  solar  and  wind  by  2030  

Favor  reducing  carbon  pollu.on    

to  deal  with  climate  

Strongly  

Republicans  55%    68%  57%  75%    67%      

Survey:  Na+onal  Millennial  Adults,  Age  18-­‐31.  n=2,004.  (Apr  2014).    Harstad  Strategic  Research  Inc..  Project  New  America  &  Youth  Engagement  Fund.  Public  Release  May  15,  2014.    

Millennials  believe  we  can  have  strong  economy  AND  combat  climate  change  

Total  Agree  

Strong  Agree  

 Dem  

 Ind  

 Rep  

Possible  to  combat  climate  change  and  have  a  strong  economy;  don’t  have  to  choose  

 77%  

 50%  

 86%  

 79%  

 58%  

Comba]ng  climate  change  will  create  more  jobs,  encourage  innovaDon  

 73%  

 41%  

 86%  

 77%  

 47%  

Carbon  polluDon  negaDvely  impacDng  our  climate,  health  

 69%  

 42%  

 83%  

 74%  

 33%  

InacDon  means  my  generaDon  cleaning  up  older  generaDon’s  mess  

 68%  

 38%  

 87%  

 70%  

 34%  

Climate  Change  is  increasing  number,  severity  of  extreme  weather  events.  

 62%  

 30%  

 83%  

 59%  

 32%  

Greenberg  Quinlan  Rosner  Research.  NextGen  Climate  &  Democracy  Corps.  Public  Release  Oct  31,  2014.;  Survey:  Na+onal  Millennial  Adults,  Age  18-­‐31.  n=2,004.  (Apr  2014)    

Volunteer to help people in need

Volunteer at a church

Volunteer to work on a project in your community

Signed a petition for a campaign or cause

Volunteered for a campaign or cause

Donated money for a campaign or cause

Registered for an event for a campaign or cause

58%

46%

45%

31%

25%

23%

13%

Millennials  volunteer  and  parDcipate  in    community  acDviDes,  less  in  poliDcal  engagement.  

Q10  /  Q14.    Volunteering  and  campaign  ac.vi.es.  

PoliDcal  and  campaign  acDviDes  

Community  and  church  acDviDes  

Survey:  Na+onal  Millennial  Adults,  Age  18-­‐31.  n=2,004.  (Apr  2014).    Harstad  Strategic  Research  Inc..  Project  New  America  &  Youth  Engagement  Fund.  Public  Release  May  15,  2014.