Organizational Governance

Strong Bipartisan Support in US for Corporate Climate, DEI Action

In GlobeScan’s newest poll, over 70% of Americans – across parties and generations – want companies to stay the course on both DEI and climate action.

Published 3 weeks ago | About a 4 minute read

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A new flash survey released today by insights and advisory firm GlobeScan offers a recent temperature read from the US public on corporate responsibility, sustainability and social advocacy.

As the economic, social, political and environmental landscapes in the US continue to weather seismic shifts, the data show strong bipartisan support for companies and CEOs that continue to stay the course on addressing climate change and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) despite headwinds from an unsupportive administration.

The March 2025 survey, conducted among a representative sample of 1,004 US adults, is a pulse survey update to GlobeScan’s annual Radar global public-opinion research program. The findings show that while the ESG and public-engagement landscape is challenging, it is full of opportunities for corporate leaders to build engagement with and earn loyalty from US consumers.

Key findings

Resilience of foundational values: Foundational concerns and values around environmental and social issues have remained constant during ongoing political and economic chaos in the US. The resilience of these values suggests that societal opinion, one of the most important underpinnings of the transition to sustainability, remains intact.
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Companies must lead responsibly: The US public is highly supportive of companies speaking out on sustainability and social issues. Companies with the savvy and conviction to meet consumer expectations can be more vocal around these issues and potentially improve brand trust.
The market opportunity for sustainability remains massive: GlobeScan’s research shows that US consumers remain interested in sustainable product offerings and that opportunity remains for companies and brands to give them more access to products and services that align with their values.
Bipartisan mandate for continued corporate governance:
- 71 percent of US adults polled believe companies should be committed to addressing climate change.
- 72 percent say companies should have commitments to DEI.
- 56 percent of Republicans support DEI commitments, and 58 percent back climate-related commitments — illustrating cross-party consensus.
- A majority of respondents across every generation polled — from Gen Z to Baby Boomers and older — agree in their support for climate change and DEI commitments.
The public wants CEOs to speak up: A majority of respondents — including over half of Republicans — believe CEOs should publicly advocate for and demonstrate action to advance both DEI and climate action.
Corporate advocacy beyond climate and DEI: Support remains high for companies speaking out on the protection of fresh water and social issues including protecting democracy and standing in support of women’s and LGBTQ+ rights. While Democrats lead on support, Independents and Republicans are selectively supportive — signaling a need for tailored messaging.
The US public remains divided on paying more taxes or higher prices to combat climate change, yet over 40 percent across all demographics — including Republicans — support this tradeoff.
Sustainable purchasing is up, but cost is still a barrier: More US consumers are buying environmentally friendly products, while cost remains a primary factor in perpetuating the gap between intention and action.
Trust in institutions is changing: Net trust in global companies has increased, while net trust in science and academia has slightly declined — especially among women, Millennials and Gen X. Conversely, we see trust rising among Gen Z and Republicans.
Protest is seen as effective tool: Belief in the effectiveness of public protests, boycotts and demonstrations has increased since 2024 — especially among Gen Z and Democrats.

“American public opinion and consumer attitudes and behaviors on sustainability remain remarkably resilient since the election of President Trump and all the attendant economic and political machinations,” says GlobeScan CEO Chris Coulter. “Americans continue to be as engaged and concerned about things like climate change and DEI as they were before, suggesting that expectations for sustainability remain fully intact.”

GlobeScan’s findings echo other post-election surveys that highlight cross-party support for companies that remain committed to action around social and environmental sustainability:

JUST Capital’s 8th annual Americans’ Views on Business Survey found that nearly across the board, the US public is unified in wanting companies to:
- treat their workers and customers with respect, humanity and fairness
- communicate honestly and transparently with customers about their products, services and operations
- conduct business ethically and honestly, and take responsibility for wrongdoings.
In a February 2025 study from Carol Cone ON PURPOSE and Harris Poll, nearly half of US adults surveyed, across parties, called for businesses to take on a much larger role in addressing social issues under the current administration.
On the environmental front, a February 2025 Oceana survey found eight in 10 US consumers concerned about the impacts of plastic pollution on our oceans and health, with widespread support across party lines for reducing the amount of plastic produced and requiring companies to reduce single-use plastic packaging and foodware.