Survey: More than 70% of Americans support a candidate who values the protection of endangered species

–New data showcases views on wildlife conservation, animal welfare and climate change–  

WASHINGTON, D.C. (September 12, 2023) – With many pressing issues facing Americans, environmental challenges are a key factor heading into the election season. According to a new survey released by IFAW, 71% of Americans are more likely to vote for a candidate who supports protecting threatened and endangered species. 

“As the world grapples with the urgent challenges of climate change and environmental degradation, we’re seeing a strong desire for political leaders who prioritize environmental conservation, the welfare of animals, and at-risk species,” said Danielle Kessler, U.S. Director, IFAW. “We urge policymakers to take these findings into consideration as they set legislation and allocate funding to protect the environment and the people and animals that inhabit it.”  

Additional key findings from the survey include:  

• Funding Wildlife Programs: Regular appropriations are key to the success of every program, including conservation programs. The survey found that a majority of Americans (80%) support funding at or above current levels for endangered species programs globally.  
• Endangered Species Act: Scientists predict that one million species are headed for extinction within the coming decades as a result of human activity.  This survey reveals that 89% of Americans care about protecting endangered species from the threat of extinction. Further, 85% support the implementation of measures under the Endangered Species Act to prevent the extinction of species.  
• Climate Change: Seven in ten Americans agree that disasters are becoming more frequent due to changes in our climate. Additional survey results show that a majority of Americans view climate change as a top threat to wild animals (68%) and believe that slowing down climate change is important to help protect against harm to wild animals (69%).   

“The recent congressional attacks on the Endangered Species Act, our nation’s best tool for protecting at-risk species are alarming, and not in-line with constituents’ priorities. This data shows that a majority of Americans support the ESA and likewise support an increase in funding for endangered species programs, to save wildlife from extinction and protect imperiled species,” added Kessler. 

METHODOLOGY 

This survey was conducted by Lincoln Park Strategies among a national sample of 2,000 individual’s male and female spanning across the U.S. Age distribution ranging from 18-44 and 45+ from various political parties. The data was collected from June 5-12, 2023.The Bayesian confidence interval for 2,000 interviews is 2.5, which is roughly equivalent to a margin of error of 2.2 at the 95% confidence level. Results might not add up to 100% due to rounding.