Democracy Dies in Darkness
Climate and Environment

Americans like Green New Deal’s goals, but they reject paying trillions to reach them

More than 3 in 4 Americans had heard little or nothing about the plan, according to a Washington Post-Kaiser Family Foundation poll.

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November 27, 2019 at 6:55 a.m. EST
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) is seen as Michael Cohen, former attorney to President Trump testifies before the House Oversight Committee on Feb. 27. (Matt McClain/The Washington Post)

Ever since Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Sen. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) introduced it last February, the Green New Deal has sparked a rancorous political debate about what exactly should be done to combat ever-worsening climate change.

But outside of Washington, few know much about it.

In a nationwide public opinion poll by The Washington Post and the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) this past summer, more than 3 in 4 Americans had heard little or nothing about the Green New Deal. While overall opinion was split, opposition rose among those most familiar with the plan.