Majority of Americans claim they want leaders who'll ACTUALLY do something about climate change

NEWS COPY w/ VIDEO & INFOGRAPHIC

Of those, a whopping 92% said they’d be more likely to vote for a candidate who planned to enforce regulations to fight climate change.

Half of the respondents (52%) believe the government is responsible for solving climate change — alongside businesses (63%) and individuals (58%).

Commissioned by Avocado Green Brands and conducted by OnePoll, the survey examined how respondents feel about government regulations in the fight against climate change.

Ninety-three percent believe government regulations are generally an effective way to fight climate change — and 84% believe they’re necessary.

Results found 87% believe we need more government regulations and respondents
would like to see them enacted first at a community level (66%).

Respondents want to help make this happen — 61% would be willing to canvas in their local area and work to receive signatures on a petition.

Regulations on plastic were top of mind for respondents: Those surveyed would be most likely to support a ban or tax on single-use plastic bags (46% and 44%, respectively), followed by a ban on single-use straws (37%).

Sixty-one percent of respondents were aware that some states have, in fact, already enacted bans on plastic bags.

“To make meaningful progress toward existing climate challenges we need wide-sweeping changes to occur — quickly — in both business and consumer behavior,” said Mark Abrials, Co-Founder and CMO, Avocado Green Brands. “One way to accomplish this is through government regulations that drive eco-conscious choices.

“At Avocado, we’re proud to be trailblazers in our industry. We’re on a mission to be the most sustainable, low-carbon, low-impact business that we can possibly be.”
Respondents saw a variety of reasons to implement government regulations — with the top benefit found to be making environmentally-friendly actions the default (57%).

Thirty-seven percent said it helps bring climate change to the forefront of people’s minds, while a third (32%) said government regulations would encourage people to make other environmentally-friendly choices.

This can include buying ethical, sustainable items — something 75% of respondents say is a priority for them.

And they're willing to pay more to make this happen, as respondents would be willing to pay 30% more for ethically-sourced items.

“We all have the ability to ‘vote’ for the change we’d like to see — with our ballot, with our dollars, and with our time and energy,” added Abrials. “Choosing ethically-sourced, sustainable products over traditionally manufactured goods is a simple way to make a positive difference for both our planet and the people that call it home.”

WHICH GOVERNMENT REGULATIONS WOULD RESPONDENTS SUPPORT?
1. Ban on single-use plastic bags
2. Tax on single-use plastic bags
3. Ban on single-use plastic straws
4. Ban on plastic packing peanuts
5. Tax on single-use plastic straws
6. New buildings/houses permitted after 2020 need to be built with solar panels
7. Receive money back from the government for using an electric car
8. Receive money back from the government for recycling
9. Receive money back from the government for using solar power
10. Hybrid or electric cars being mandatory by 2030