Most Americans Now Believe the Environment Is Getting Worse — And They Want Change

Something significant is shifting in how Americans feel about the world around them. A new Gallup poll has revealed that positive feelings about environmental quality in the United States have reached a record low, with just 35% of adults rating the state of the environment as “excellent” or “good.” That number represents the lowest point since Gallup began tracking this sentiment back in 2001, and it reflects a striking eight point drop in a single year.

Two thirds of U.S. adults now believe that environmental quality is actively worsening, a figure that carries real weight when you consider what that means for communities, ecosystems, and future generations. This isn’t abstract worry. It’s people looking at the air they breathe, the water they drink, and the planet they share with countless other species and feeling a sense of loss.

According to Gallup, much of this year’s sharp decline is being driven by independents, whose positive ratings dropped ten points compared to last year. While views on the environment have long followed partisan lines, the growing alarm among people outside either major party signals that concern for the Earth is cutting across political boundaries in ways that matter.

Even more compelling is what Americans want done about it. A record 63% of adults believe the federal government is not doing enough to protect the environment, a six point increase from the previous year. That is not a fringe sentiment. That is a clear and growing majority calling for stronger environmental leadership and real climate action.

At the heart of public concern sits water. Drinking water Pollution tops the list of environmental worries, with more than half of Americans expressing serious concern about both water quality and freshwater availability. Clean water is the foundation of health, food systems, and thriving wildlife. When people feel that foundation is under threat, it is a call to action that deserves to be heard.

The movement for a healthier planet is not losing momentum — it is finding new urgency.

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