@Douglas_Main
ILLUSTRATION BY MAËLLE DOLIVEUX
The number of Americans who self-identify as “environmentalists” has sharply declined over the past 25 years. In 1991, a large majority—78 percent— said they were environmentalists. In 2016, only 42 percent identified that way, according to Gallup polls. The reason for the shift seems to be the politicization of the term environmentalist. Today, the word carries negative connotations for some, particularly Republicans, says Dave Metz, a partner with the polling firm FM3. In 1991, the same percentage of Republicans and Democrats said they were environmentalists; now only 27 percent of the former do so, compared with 56 percent of the latter.