Arizona: Wildfires And Extreme Weather - Environmental Defense Action Fund

Arizona: Wildfires and Extreme Weather EDF ACTION September 2020

EDF ACTION Concern is high for Arizona voters across each weather event tested, including wildfires (89%), heat waves (83%) and drought (88%). Half of Arizona voters say that wildfires have become both much more frequent (54%) and much more extreme (55%) in the past 3-5 years. Events like wildfires, drought, and heat waves have made 75% of Arizona voters more concerned about climate change, including 71% of independent voters. Key Points A majority of Arizona voters say wildlife (70%), the environment (64%), and agriculture (57%) have been impacted a lot by wildfires, and 63% say wildfires have been very harmful to the environment in the past 3-5 years. Four in five Arizona voters (78%) say it should be a priority for the U.S. to pass legislation to address climate change, including 44% who say it should be a top priority. And, three in five Arizona voters (61%) say they would be more likely to vote for a U.S. senate candidate in their state if that candidate were to support aggressive action to address climate change. SLIDE / 2 Methodology: This poll was conducted between September 11-September 14, 2020 among a national sample of 400 Arizona RVs. The interviews were conducted online and the data were weighted to approximate a target sample of Arizona RVs based on age, gender, race, and educational attainment. Results from the full survey have a margin of error of plus or minus 5 percentage points.

EDF ACTION Perceptions of Extreme Weather Events Climate Change Concern Contents Impact of Extreme Weather Policy and Candidate Support SLIDE / 3

EDF ACTION Concern is high for Arizona voters across each weather event, including wildfires (89%), heat waves (83%) and drought (88%). As you may know, wildfires, drought, and heat waves have been affecting large parts of the United States over the past few weeks. How concerned, if at all, are you about these events? Very concerned Perceptions of Extreme Weather Events SLIDE / 4 Somewhat concerned Don't know/no opinion Not too concerned 63% Wildfires Heat waves 51% Drought 50% 26% 32% 38% Not at all concerned 8% 12% 7% 4%

EDF ACTION Over three quarters of Arizona voters say wildfires have become more frequent in the past 3-5 years (85%), with half of Arizona voters saying wildfires have become much more frequent (54%). In your opinion, in the past 3-5 years, have events like wildfires, drought, and heat waves become more frequent or less frequent, or has the frequency not changed much at all? Much more frequent Perceptions of Extreme Weather Events Drought SLIDE / 5 Not changed much at all 54% Wildfires Heat waves Somewhat more frequent 45% 40% Somewhat less frequent Much less frequent 31% 32% 36% 14% 21% 24%

EDF ACTION A majority of Arizona voters say that wildfires (84%), heat waves (79%), and drought (74%) have become at least somewhat more extreme in the past 3-5 years. In your opinion, in the past 3-5 years, have events like wildfires, drought and heat waves become more extreme, less extreme, or have they not changed much at all? Much more extreme Perceptions of Extreme Weather Events Drought 6 Not changed much at all 55% Wildfires Heat waves SLIDE / Somewhat more extreme Much less extreme 29% 43% 36% Somewhat less extreme 36% 38% 16% 21% 26%

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EDF ACTION 2 in 5 Arizona voters say the recent weather events have made them much more concerned about the impacts of climate change (43%). Have events like the wildfires, drought, and heat waves currently affecting large parts of the United States made you more or less concerned about the impacts of climate change, or do these events not impact your opinion either way? 43% Climate Change Concern 32% 22% 2% 1% Much more concerned SLIDE / 8 75% Somewhat more concerned No impact either way Somewhat less concerned Much less concerned 3%

EDF ACTION Nearly three quarters of Arizona swing voters, including swing Trump job approval (73%) and independent voters (71%), say the recent weather events have made them more concerned about the impacts of climate change. Have events like the wildfires, drought, and heat waves currently affecting large parts of the United States made you more or less concerned about the impacts of climate change, or do these events not impact your opinion either way? Much more concerned PID: Rep (no lean) 28% Swing Trump Job Approval 28% SLIDE / 9 24% Much less concerned 22% 27% 37% PID: Ind (no lean) Somewhat less concerned 32% 64% PID: Dem (no lean) 2016 Trump Voter No impact either way 43% Arizona RVs Climate Change Concern Somewhat more concerned 34% 36% 28% 30% 45% 33% 9% 4% 27% 38%

EDF ACTION Arizona voters are most concerned, of the options tested, about climate change’s impacts on the environment (77%), wildlife (80%) and agriculture (77%). How concerned are you, if at all, about the impacts of climate change on each of the following? Very concerned Somewhat concerned Water quality 48% Health 48% 26% Major outdoor events 20% Property (cars, homes) 20% 4% 28% 26% 22% 19% 27% Small businesses 18% 30% 5% 5% 6% 4% 11% 8% 4% 10% 8% 21% 24% 29% 28% 10% 14% 18% 30% 31% Tourism 5% 5% 6% 8% 14% 23% 31% Your family or friends 10 26% 38% Emergency services 8% 22% 51% Agriculture Not at all concerned 24% 55% Environment SLIDE / Not too concerned 56% Wildlife Climate Change Concern Don't know/no opinion 11% 12% 16% 21% 20% 20% 18%

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EDF ACTION Wildlife (90%), the environment (87%), and agriculture (85%) rise to the top when Arizona voters think about the impacts of wildfires. In your opinion, how much, if at all, have the wildfires currently affecting large parts of the United States impacted each of the following? A lot Don't know/unsure Some 4% 27% 48% Health 4% 8% 28% 54% Emergency services 6% 23% 57% Agriculture 34% 8% 5% 11% 4% 12% Tourism 43% 33% 6% 15% 4% Property (cars, homes) 43% 34% 6% 14% 4% 15% 4% 40% Water quality Small businesses Your family or friends 34% 36% Major outdoor events 12 20% 64% Environment SLIDE / Not at all 70% Wildlife Impact of Extreme Weather Not much 33% 28% 19% 37% 31% 7% 8% 9% 6% 28% 18% 5% 20% 6% 16%

EDF ACTION The top three remain unchanged when Arizona voters consider the impact of heat waves, with over three quarters of voters saying wildlife (87%) the environment (82%) and agriculture (84%) have been impacted at least somewhat. A majority of Arizona voters also believe health has been impacted by recent heat waves (79%). In your opinion, how much, if at all, have the heat waves currently affecting large parts of the United States impacted each of the following? A lot Impact of Extreme Weather 13 Water quality 34% Emergency services 33% 4% 33% 33% 4% 8% 36% 23% 7% 42% Property (cars, homes) 20% 34% Your family or friends 19% 34% 36% 6% 11% 20% 19% 6% 8% 14% 20% 7% 38% 12% 6% 41% 28% 16% 8% 29% 37% Health Not at all 29% 51% Agriculture Small businesses Not much 53% Environment Tourism Don't know/unsure 58% Wildlife Major outdoor events SLIDE / Some 24% 9% 4% 6% 4% 8% 6% 26% 12% 28% 12% 28% 9%

EDF ACTION Over half of Arizona voters say agriculture (60%), wildlife (61%) and the environment (57%) have been impacted a lot by drought. Over one third of voters say water quality has been impacted a lot by drought (44%). In your opinion, how much, if at all, has the drought currently affecting large parts of the United States impacted each of the following? A lot Impact of Extreme Weather Not at all 61% 26% 4% 7% Agriculture 60% 28% 4% 6% 57% Environment 35% 31% 17% Your family or friends 17% 16% 9% 37% 31% 25% 8% 34% 30% 7% 8% 32% 20% 4% 6% 34% 22% Small businesses Property (cars, homes) 30% 32% Health Tourism 27% 44% Water quality Major outdoor events 14 Not much Wildlife Emergency services SLIDE / Don't know/unsure Some 27% 11% 28% 9% 14% 4% 21% 5% 21% 6% 12% 8% 11% 8% 30% 15% 10% 29% 14%

EDF ACTION Approximately two thirds of voters in Arizona say wildfires have been very harmful to wildlife (67%) and the environment (63%). In your opinion, in the past 3-5 years, how harmful, if at all, have events like wildfires been to each of the following? Very harmful Somewhat harmful Not too harmful 47% Agriculture Small businesses Impact of Extreme Weather 32% 39% 24% 33% 15% 4% 10% 29% 7% 3% 16% 41% 30% 20% Tourism 41% 29% 20% 47% 48% 4%6% 8% 16% 24% 34% 7% 11% 37% 63% Environment Property (cars, homes) 34% 43% 11% 21% 24% 7% 10% Major outdoor events Emergency services 15 9% 21% 67% Wildlife Health SLIDE / Don't know/no opinion 36% 27% Water quality Your family or friends Not at all harmful 7% 3% 6% 4% 10% 3% 4%

EDF ACTION When it comes to heat waves, over one third of Arizona voters believe they have been very harmful to wildlife (43%), health (39%), the environment (39%), and agriculture (37%). In your opinion, in the past 3-5 years, how harmful, if at all, have events like heat waves been to each of the following? Very harmful Somewhat harmful Not too harmful 37% Agriculture Small businesses Impact of Extreme Weather Water quality 17% Major outdoor events Tourism Property (cars, homes) SLIDE / 16 30% 28% 31% 7% 11% 10% 25% 7% 9% 14% 26% 10% 6% 15% 35% 12% 9% 26% 37% 7% 12% 23% 32% 39% 10% 14% 32% 29% 20% 22% 26% 39% Environment 15% 34% 28% Health Emergency services 27% 43% 26% 11% 29% 30% 23% Don't know/no opinion 38% 27% Wildlife Your family or friends Not at all harmful 14% 7% 9%

EDF ACTION Approximately half of Arizona voters say drought has been harmful to wildlife (54%), the environment (52%), and agriculture (47%). In your opinion, in the past 3-5 years, how harmful, if at all, have events like drought been to each of the following? Very harmful Somewhat harmful Not too harmful 47% Agriculture Small businesses Impact of Extreme Weather 14% 17% Major outdoor events 19% Tourism 19% Property (cars, homes) 17 34% 29% 28% 14% 9% 9% 10% 23% 27% 28% 5% 9% 22% 35% 24% 8% 27% 52% 18% 7% 5% 17% 30% 32% 18% 13% 20% 30% 24% 9% 16% 28% 33% Environment 10% 30% 54% Health SLIDE / 26% Wildlife Emergency services Don't know/no opinion 28% 40% Water quality Your family or friends Not at all harmful 10% 10% 21% 8% 9%

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EDF ACTION When thinking about recent wildfires, drought, and heat waves, 44% of Arizona voters say it should be a top priority for the U.S. to pass legislation to address climate change. Thinking about recent wildfires, drought and heat waves, how much of a priority should it be, if at all, for the U.S. to pass legislation to address climate change? 44% 34% Policy and Candidate Support 8% 11% A top priority SLIDE / An important, but not top priority 3% Not much of a priority Not at all a priority 19 78% 19% Don't know/no opinion

EDF ACTION When thinking about recent wildfires, drought, and heat waves, three quarters of Arizona independents (80%) and swing Trump job approval voters (74%) say it should be a priority for the U.S. to pass legislation to address climate change. Thinking about recent wildfires, drought and heat waves, how much of a priority should it be, if at all, for the U.S. to pass legislation to address climate change? A top priority Policy and Candidate Support Swing Trump Job Approval 2016 Trump Voter 20 34% 11% 38% 41% 27% 22% 8% 26% 42% 23% Not at all a priority Not much of a priority 67% PID: Dem (no lean) PID: Rep (no lean) Don't know/no opinion 44% Arizona RVs PID: Ind (no lean) SLIDE / An important, but not top priority 38% 10% 4% 47% 18% 4% 5% 4% 19% 8% 14% 14% 9% 17%