This presentation showcases the results of a survey conducted by Maslansky + Partners, in collaboration with WBCSD and the Potential Energy Action Network. The survey, which polled 2,000 registered voters before the US presidential election across ideological lines, gauged public expectations of businesses under different potential presidential scenarios. The survey results show that Americans across the political spectrum expect companies to take action on climate issues. Importantly, the survey also showed that Americans are paying closer attention to both the language and tone companies use to articulate their climate and social commitments, and that ultimately shape how they are perceived in a politically polarized context.   

Key survey findings include:

• 63 percent of registered voters, including a majority of Republican voters, do not view a company acting on climate as political.
• Over 50 percent of the respondents believe companies aren’t doing enough on climate, while only 10 percent say companies are doing “too much”.
• Nearly 70 percent of Americans say they’d view a company favorably for stating, “No matter the election outcome, investing in clean energy sources like wind and solar is the right thing to do.”
• Less than 20 percent of voters believe companies should use more fossil fuels, even if federal fossil fuel initiatives expand. 

The data underscores that Americans expect companies to lead on climate action independent of government priorities. This illustrates that companies see the importance of sustainability as a competitive advantage, as well as the need for transparent reporting that directly connects to material impact.

Download the full survey findings here: