2020 Conservation in the West Poll, Results for Idaho

The tenth annual Colorado College State of the Rockies Project Conservation in the West Poll shows voters in the Mountain West want an aggressive agenda to protect more public lands in the face of threats from climate change impacts and energy development. Voters responded to questions concerning conservation of national parks and public lands, energy, water, wildlife and other pressing challenges in the Mountain West. The poll, which surveyed the views of 400 registered voters in each of the eight Mountain West states (Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Utah, and Wyoming), found that public lands and our outdoor way of life continue to be of significant importance to Western voters.

Consistent with other Western voters, Idaho showed bi-partisan support for public land protections.

A strong conservation mindset emerged in the Idaho 2020 survey:

• 70 percent label themselves as a “conservationist”

• 63% support full, dedicated funding for the Land and Water Conservation Fund

• Compared to other issues…83% say protecting clean air, clean water, wildlife and public lands are important when deciding to vote for an elected official

• 72% think it’s important that the Governor has a plan to reduce carbon emissions that contribute to climate change

“Support for conservation on public lands has remained consistent and strong over the decade-long history of our poll,” said Corina McKendry, Director of the State of the Rockies Project and an Associate Professor of Political Science at Colorado College. “The urgency and demand for action behind those feelings is now intensifying as voters in the West increasingly believe their lands and lifestyles are coming under attack from the impacts of climate change and energy development.”

At Idaho Business for the Outdoors, we have a deep appreciation for the role healthy lands, water and air play in driving our economy, recruiting and retaining employees, and in supporting public health. “There is clear support for our public lands that this survey helps illuminate, and which helps validate our business members’ support of Idaho’s outdoors,” said Heather Dermott, Executive Director of Idaho Business for the Outdoors. “In this time of political polarization, our public lands unite us and provide a place for unification. Our businesses want to ensure the continuance of our great outdoors and livable communities for future generations.”

Overall, the survey across states revealed that a growing number of people also fear the impact of climate change, including more severe wildfires, which are viewed as a serious problem by 82 percent of voters, which reflects a 5 percent increase over the past four years. 74 percent of voters expect their congressional representatives and state governors to create a plan to reduce carbon pollution that contributes to climate change. Reducing carbon pollution is seen as an important objective for public officials by a majority of Democrats, Republicans, and independent voters.

Colorado Colleges’s State of the Rockies Project, 2020 Conservation in the West Poll