A recent report from the Environmental Voter Project (EVP) has shed light on the growing gender gap in climate and environmental priorities among voters. The report, shared first with The 19th, reveals that more women than men are listing climate and environmental issues as their top priority when it comes to voting.
The EVP, a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that focuses on mobilizing low-propensity voters who prioritize climate and environmental issues, found that 62 percent of these so-called “climate voters” are women, while only 37 percent are men. This gender gap is particularly significant among young people, Black, and Indigenous voters.
The EVP identifies these climate voters through a predictive model based on surveys conducted among registered voters. A climate voter is defined as someone with at least an 85 percent likelihood of prioritizing climate change or environmental issues.
Nathaniel Stinnett, the founder of the organization, noted that while other political gender gaps have remained stable, the gender gap in public opinion about climate change is unique and significant. However, while the models can predict voter priorities, they cannot determine how these voters actually cast their ballots.
The report analyzed data from 21 states with a mix of red and blue political leanings. According to polling from the AP-NORC exit poll, 7 percent of voters self-reported climate change as their top priority in the 2024 general election, with a majority of them voting for former Vice President Kamala Harris by a significant margin.
Stinnett emphasized the importance of acknowledging and embracing women’s leadership and wisdom in the fight against climate change, given that a majority of climate voters are women. The growing gender gap in climate priorities over the past few years has raised questions about why this trend has emerged. While it’s unclear why men are now less likely to prioritize climate change, it’s essential to consider how other issues may have taken precedence in their minds.
A survey conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication has also noted a similar trend in public attitudes toward climate change. In 2014, there was a 7 percent gap between men and women in the U.S. who expressed concern about global warming. This data underscores the need for continued research and advocacy to address the gender gap in climate priorities and mobilize a diverse coalition of voters to support climate action. In 2024, a decade after the initial findings, the gender gap in climate voters had nearly doubled to 12 percent. This disparity highlights the importance of understanding how climate change and pollution impact women differently than men, both in the United States and globally. Women, especially women of color, are more likely to live in low-income communities with greater climate risk, making them more vulnerable to the effects of environmental issues.
The Environmental Voter Project (EVP) findings revealed a significant gap between Black women and men climate voters, with a 35 percent difference, and a 29 percent difference between Indigenous women and men. Jasmine Gil, from Hip Hop Caucus, noted that Black women often bear the responsibility of protecting their families and communities, experiencing the direct impacts of climate change in their daily lives.
The EVP survey also uncovered a larger gender gap among registered voters in the youngest demographic, ages 18 to 24. Cristina Tzintzún Ramirez, the president of NextGen America, attributed this gap to young women’s higher levels of education and progressive values, as well as concerns about motherhood. Young mothers, particularly in Latino communities, worry about the health of their children in the face of environmental issues like air quality and asthma.
Ramirez emphasized the importance of engaging young men in the conversation about climate change. NextGen America is developing gender-based strategies to reach this demographic, focusing on positive aspects of masculinity like protection and care for loved ones. By highlighting how men can contribute to safeguarding their families and communities from the consequences of the climate crisis, progressive groups aim to bridge the gender gap in climate advocacy.
As the data shows that women between the ages of 25 to 45 and those 65 and over make up a significant portion of climate voters, it is crucial to continue researching and developing targeted strategies to engage diverse demographics in climate action. By understanding the unique perspectives and concerns of different groups, we can work towards a more equitable and inclusive approach to addressing environmental challenges in the future.
