Global Environmental Satisfaction Hits 57%, Masking Worsening Conditions and Deep Partisan Divides in the U.S.

A new global survey reveals a striking paradox in public opinion: a median of 57% of adults across 140 countries reported satisfaction with environmental preservation efforts in their country in 2025, an increase from 49% in 2022. 

However, this growing satisfaction is observed even as many global environmental indicators continue to worsen, with analysts suggesting these views are more closely linked to people’s confidence in their national government than to objective environmental performance.

US Trails OECD on Satisfaction

While global satisfaction is up, the United States lags behind the median of 56% across OECD countries, with only 42% of Americans expressing satisfaction in 2025. The U.S. figure has not reached 50% since 2014 and represents one of the biggest global declines since its recent high point of 60%.

Record-Low Environment Rating

Compounding this view, a record-low 35% of Americans rate the quality of the U.S. environment positively, an eight-percentage-point drop from the previous year. This decline is largely driven by independents, whose positive rating fell 10 points to 34%. Partisan differences are stark, with Republicans’ positive rating remaining high at 63%, in contrast to Democrats’ record-low 16%.

Growing Climate Alarm

Despite low satisfaction with preservation efforts, worry about global warming or climate change among Americans is near its highest reading since 1989, at 44%. Furthermore, a record-high 44% of U.S. adults believe the seriousness of global warming is underestimated in the news, up from 38% last year. This sentiment is particularly strong among independents, with 46% saying the risks are underestimated.