Ahead of New York Climate Week, C2ES, with maslansky + partners and Potential Energy Coalition, highlight insights from a study of 2,000 adults across the United States revealing strong support persists for corporate climate action across the ideological spectrum
WASHINGTON—Today, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES), in partnership with maslansky + partners and Potential Energy Coalition, published a nationwide survey revealing that three in four Americans agree that companies have a responsibility to limit their climate impact. The survey, conducted among a nationally representative sample of U.S. voters, shows that while the political environment for corporate climate action has shifted significantly, the business case for climate action continues to hold strong.
C2ES and maslansky + partners will host a discussion of the key research findings in a webinar on September 30th. Register here.
“Despite increased political polarization and a challenging regulatory environment, the American public still supports the business case for climate action,” said Nat Keohane, president of the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions. “Across party lines, strong majorities believe that climate action is smart business and think more highly of—and are more likely to buy from—companies that invest in clean energy and limit climate pollution.”
Key Survey Findings
Americans Want Companies to Limit their Climate Impact:
- Concern for climate change has only grown over the past two years and continues to span political affiliation, with eight in 10 Americans viewing climate change as a moderate or serious problem.
- Three-quarters of Americans believe companies have a responsibility to limit their climate impact, including 76% of Independents and 68% of Republicans. Roughly the same share call it “smart business” to do so.
Americans View Corporate Climate Retreat as either Wrong or Opportunistic: Seven in 10 Americans characterized the behavior of companies pulling back on their climate commitments under fear of potential political pressure as “opportunistic” or “wrong,” including 72% of Independents and 65% of Republicans.
Americans View Pro-Climate Companies More Favorably: The majority of Americans say they are not only more likely to hold a more favorable opinion of companies that take pro-climate actions (ex. using clean energy, reducing pollution, etc.), but also more likely to buy from those same companies. Meanwhile, anti-climate actions such as announcing rollbacks of climate commitments or no longer investing in clean energy not only appeal to far fewer, but also risk blowback.
- 45% of Independents and 27% of Republicans say they are less likely to purchase services from a company that no longer invests in clean energy.
“These findings reinforce our consistent guidance to communicators: it’s not what you say, it’s what your audiences hear. Climate commitments resonate best when they’re anchored in practical business realities rather than moral or ethical frameworks,” said Michael Maslansky, Chief Executive Officer of maslansky + partners. “Responsible business means accounting for, and responding to, material business risks and opportunities — in whatever form they take.”
Recommendations for Communicating about Climate Action
The survey revealed that although there is broad, cross-ideological support for companies to reduce their climate impact, how companies communicate those actions matters. The survey found that Americans are more receptive to language that presents climate action as delivering practical, business benefits rather than as evidence of a moral or social justice issue. The report concludes with four recommendations to help corporate leaders and the broader community of practice communicate about their climate actions in the current highly polarized environment:
- Lead with business logic, not moral authority.
- Address the real concern about costs directly and transparently.
- Maintain commitments.
- Understand that Americans recognize the difference between environmental responsibility and partisan activism.
The survey was conducted by maslansky + partners, an independent consultancy, in October 2025 with a sample size of 2,000 registered U.S. voters. The sample was nationally representative, with quotas aligned to U.S. population distribution by age, gender, education, and state and maintained a partisan balance consisting of 35% Democrats, 32% Independents, and 33% Republicans. This was the third wave of research conducted by maslansky + partners and Potential Energy Coalition, with funding support from C2ES, building on public attitudes data initially collected in 2023.
To discuss the research and recommendations contact Allison Dennis at press@c2es.org.
About C2ES: The Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES)—or C2ES—champions policies and technologies that foster thriving economies and shared prosperity, founded on abundant, affordable, and reliable clean energy and a safe climate. Founded in 1998 as the Pew Center on Global Climate Change, C2ES is known worldwide as a thought leader and trusted convener. Learn how C2ES is helping to prepare businesses for the low carbon future and make the business case for long-term investments in resilience at https://www.c2es.org/content/the-business-case-for-climate-action/ .
About maslansky + partners: maslansky + partners (m+p) is a strategic communications and research consulting agency widely recognized as a leader in language, research, and message development. m+p is the creator of Language Strategy®, the singular discipline of finding exactly the right words to make audiences listen, care, and act. The firm’s approach is built on a simple but powerful idea: it’s not what you say that matters, it’s what they hear®. Combining behavioral science, linguistics, and a strategic understanding of business, m+p delivers a clear action plan of what to say, how to say it, and why it will work to drive business results. m+p makes a big impact on how winning organizations communicate, from Fortune 500 companies to trade associations to nonprofits around the world. For more information on maslansky + partners, a part of Omnicom Public Relations, visit www.maslansky.com.
About Potential Energy Coalition: Potential Energy is a nonprofit marketing firm driving public demand for climate solutions. Leveraging deep analytics and creative storytelling, Potential Energy connects with people on a human level to tip the balance on the policies that will dramatically accelerate the energy transition. Our campaigns are backed by extensive audience research, yielding data-driven insights that shift the climate narrative to win the fights that matter. Founded in 2018, Potential Energy has a track record of transformative campaigns that capture audiences and mobilize support for climate action. Learn more and get involved at potentialenergycoalition.org.
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