CONTACT: Angela Gonzales, Press Secretary
media@nationalparksaction.org
Washington, DC – A strong majority (87%) of Arizona voters, regardless of political party, support conserving more lands, open space and waters throughout the country, according to a new poll conducted for the National Parks Action Fund (NPAF). Nearly 9 out of 10 Arizona voters (88%) support preserving more lands around the Grand Canyon in order to better protect the Colorado River and other water sources, which are vital to the health of local communities and national parks. A strong bipartisan majority also thinks that national parks have a range of positive impacts on Arizona when it comes to recreation, wildlife protection, human health and local economies.
The NPAF poll, which surveyed 619 registered voters in Arizona, was conducted from August 23-28, 2022, by Climate Nexus Polling, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, and the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. The margin of error for this poll is +/-4.2% at the 95% confidence level.
“Our national parks are powerful places. They have an unparalleled ability to bring people together and bridge political divides. It’s clear that this power resonates with voters in Arizona, who regardless of political affiliation, overwhelmingly believe in protecting their national parks,” said Kristen Brengel, National Parks Action Fund Executive Director. “Arizona voters see the beauty as well as economic and health benefits of national parks. They also understand the need to address climate change and move towards clean energy. Arizona voters agree. There’s no time to waste and lawmakers must act now.”
Arizona is home to not only the iconic Grand Canyon but numerous other parks and monuments that hold some of the country’s most breathtaking landscapes and archaeological and cultural sites like Saguaro National Parks and Lake Mead National Recreation Area. But many of these irreplaceable sites are reaching a breaking point due to the effects of climate change, decades of inadequate budgets and understaffing, and a growing backlog of repair needs.
The poll results reinforce that Arizona residents not only care about their national parks and public lands and waters, but that they also understand the issues impacting them. Most Arizona voters (72%) say investing funds to protect national parks would have a positive impact, including 33% that says it has a very positive impact on the state and communities. And most voters (75%), regardless of political party, would be more likely to support a representative who supported policies designed to protect national parks like the Grand Canyon from the impacts of climate change.
“Arizona voters recognize that national parks like the Grand Canyon are a critical part of their state’s economy and identity,” said Dr. Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. “And they strongly support new investments to protect these treasures from the impacts of climate change.”
The poll also asked Arizona voters about topics such as the last time they visited a national park and the importance of moving forward with climate change solutions. Key findings include:
- About nine in 10 Arizona voters say national parks have a positive impact on recreation and wildlife protection (89%) in Arizona. And about three-quarters say national parks have a positive impact on health (82%), air quality (76%), and the economy (71%).
- At least 8 in 10 Arizona voters (82%) say they would be more likely to support a representative who supports policies addressing drought in Lake Mead and the Colorado River.
- A majority of Arizona voters agreed that climate change is having an influence on weather and their local communities, including droughts (80%), wildfires (74%) and water restrictions (73%). Nearly eight in 10 voters believe that climate change is having an influence on people’s health (77%).
- A majority of Arizona voters (75%) support government action to address climate change. And at least seven in 10 Arizona voters say passing a comprehensive bill to address climate change and increasing funding for renewable energy should be a top or important priority for Congress.
- Nearly eight in 10 Arizona voters (78%) agree the primary long-term goal of US energy policy should be achieving 100% clean energy.
“Arizona communities have already suffered severe consequences from climate change, from extreme wildfires to megadrought to dangerous heat,” said Dr. Edward Maibach, director of the George Mason University Center for Climate Change Communication. “This has not gone unnoticed by Arizona voters and helps explain their strong support for transitioning to clean energy.”
For more detail on the poll results, please see the poll toplines. And to learn more about how NPAF is working to protect national parks across the country, please visit: https://nationalparksaction.org/.
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About National Parks Action Fund
National Parks Action Fund (Action Fund) is the affiliated 501(c)(4) of National Parks Conservation Association. The Action Fund’s goals are to protect, restore, and fund the National Park System by informing the public about threats facing our parks, educating members of Congress about proposals to help parks, and influencing candidates’ positions to forward those proposals.