Over the last decade, Democrats have said that not addressing climate change would become an “existential threat.”
In 2019, American climatologist Michael Mann was asked about the Green New Deal, and he said what we need is a World War II-like mobilization to address climate change.
“Nazi Germany represented a threat to the world; climate change represents a threat to the world, a threat to humanity. It’s the greatest challenge we face,” said Mann.
But in 2025, most voters don’t share that view.
CNN Data analyst Harry Enten said the message coming from the left isn’t working anymore.
“We’ve been talking about climate change now for decades, upon decades, upon decades. And the worry in terms of climate change, simply put, hasn’t shifted; it has not reached the majority of Americans,” said Enten.
Last week, Bill Gates softened his stance on climate change. Ditching his formerly apocalyptic narrative, Gates plans to redirect resources with a stronger focus on humanitarian efforts in regions affected by natural disasters.
This year, the Gallup survey has shown that the concern from voters over the “climate threat” has dropped.
When the question was posed to those being surveyed about being “greatly worried about climate,” Enten showed that the numbers were higher at one point but have now been on the decline.
In 1989, those concerned about the environment were 35%. In 2000, that number spiked to 40%. In 2020, the rate increased to 46%. However, by 2025, it had dropped back to 40%.
“The bottom line is that the climate change message that folks who, of course, believe that climate change is real and is quite worrisome, simply put, has not really worked with the American people.”
Enten went on to say that the climate change issue isn’t anywhere close to being the biggest thing that people are worried about.
“You don’t have to be a mathematical genius to know that these numbers are not particularly high. The top issue facing the United States is climate change. It was 3% in 2021, 2% on average in polls in 2023. And this year (2025), the average of polls is two. One, two. It is very, very low on the list of priorities,” said Enten.
