A recent poll discovered that very few Americans believe that the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), which was signed into law by President Biden in 2022, has contributed positively to the fight against climate change.
The study, carried out by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs and Research, revealed that a large number of participants feel that the IRA has not had a significant impact on climate change, while even more were not knowledgeable enough to assess its influence.
Only 16 percent of those surveyed stated that the IRA has been more effective in addressing climate change, while 13 percent mentioned that it has had a negative impact. Thirty percent believed that it has not had a significant effect, and 41 percent indicated that they did not have enough information to form an opinion. The survey discovered that.
When asked about specific measures outlined in the legislation aimed at tackling climate change, many Americans admitted that they did not possess sufficient knowledge to provide a response.
The highest percentage, 35 percent of participants, stated that tax credits for renewable energy projects such as solar and wind power have been beneficial. On the other hand, just 27 percent of those surveyed mentioned that federal funding for clean energy projects in low-income communities has been effective.
The largest portion, 26 percent of Americans, agreed that the tax credit program for individuals to transition to electric vehicles has had no impact compared to any other provision that was inquired about.
According to the survey, respondents highlighted that one of the most crucial actions for the federal government to take is to "invest in new, eco-friendly technologies." A significant 57 percent of participants deemed this as extremely or very important.
Biden has promoted the climate investments in the IRA as a method to enhance domestic manufacturing and job creation. The survey revealed that 34 percent of those surveyed mentioned that the legislation has played a role in motivating companies to produce clean energy technologies in the U.S. instead of overseas.
A large majority of participants, 79 percent, believe that the federal government holds the responsibility to address climate change, while 56 percent indicated that it is not doing enough to combat the problem.
The survey was conducted between April 4-8 and involved 1,204 adults, with a margin of error of 3.9 percentage points.
