Special Report
Amid One of the Most Extreme Weather Years on Record, These Places Are Not Worried About Climate Change
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Published: October 8, 2024 6:07 am
Nationwide, 35.9% of Americans report not being worried about climate change.
Lack of concern over climate change is highest in the Midwest.
Climate change worry is positively correlated with climate change risk.
In Grant County, West Virginia, 59.7% of residents are not worried about climate change, the most of any county nationwide.
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After making landfall in the Florida Panhandle on September 26, Hurricane Helene traveled 600 miles north all the way to Tennessee to become one of the most destructive hurricanes on record. One of the worst hit cities was Asheville, North Carolina, where full neighborhoods were destroyed and thousands were left stranded without food and power.
While some cities in the Midwest have advertised themselves as “climate havens” with low natural hazard risk, the scale and intensity of destruction in a city like Asheville has called that concept into question. Still, there some parts of the country where residents are relatively unconcerned about climate change.
Twice a year, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication conducts the most comprehensive survey on climate change knowledge and opinion in the United States. In their survey, Yale asked participants, “How worried are you about global warming?” with options ranging from “very worried” to “not at all worried”. While nationwide 35.9% of Americans say they are not very or not at all worried about global warming, large regional disparities persist throughout the country.
In Grant County in northeast West Virginia, 59.7% of residents are not worried about climate change, the most of any county nationwide. Meanwhile, in New York County in southeast New York just 19.0% of residents are not worried about climate change, the least of any county. On average, 39.7% of residents in the Midwest are not worried about climate change, compared to 38.6% of residents in the South, 32.0% in the West, and 31.2% in the Northeast.
While climate worry is negatively correlated with factors like income and educational attainment, many of the counties that are least concerned with climate change are also relatively low risk for natural disaster, as measured by the FEMA National Risk Index.
To determine the counties that are not worried about climate change the most, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data on climate change belief from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication . Counties were ranked based on the percentage of surveyed residents who answered that they are “not very” or “not at all worried” about global warming in 2023. Supplemental data on median household income and the percentage of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and is for 2022. Data on natural hazard risk rating is from FEMA .
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 55.6%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 51.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.2%
Median household income: $46,234
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: West Union
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 55.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.3%
Median household income: $50,935
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Greenville
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 55.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 53.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.3%
Median household income: $47,884
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Jamestown
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 55.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 52.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.3%
Median household income: $47,589
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Morgantown
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 55.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 52.5%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.3%
Median household income: $42,194
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Logan
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 55.8%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 52.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.2%
Median household income: $46,748
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Scottsboro
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 55.8%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 52.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.4%
Median household income: $44,510
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Pineville
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 55.9%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 53.5%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.9%
Median household income: $47,608
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Geneva
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 55.9%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 52.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.4%
Median household income: $48,220
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Jamestown
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 55.9%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 54.6%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.3%
Median household income: $57,252
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Fulton
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 51.7%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 22.0%
Median household income: $79,235
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Douglas
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 53.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.8%
Median household income: $49,743
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Hamilton
By David Becker - Cross Ranch State Park, North DakotaUploaded by Vux, CC BY 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=12746009
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 52.3%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.6%
Median household income: $69,722
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Center
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.2%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 51.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.7%
Median household income: $57,440
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Oneonta
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.2%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 54.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 17.0%
Median household income: $54,861
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Blackshear
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.2%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.3%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.3%
Median household income: $52,987
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Jasper
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.2%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 53.9%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.9%
Median household income: $66,168
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Rockport
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.3%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.4%
Median household income: $51,544
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Erin
Tim Kiser (w:User:Malepheasant) / Wikimedia Commons
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 53.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 8.3%
Median household income: $39,031
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Grantsville
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 52.8%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.3%
Median household income: $40,166
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Nahunta
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 52.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.2%
Median household income: $39,744
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Huntsville
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 52.7%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.9%
Median household income: $60,469
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Gibson
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.6%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 51.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.2%
Median household income: $49,565
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Vernon
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 49.8%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.5%
Median household income: $58,861
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Jacksboro
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.6%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.9%
Median household income: $93,315
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Gillette
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.8%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 52.3%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 12.2%
Median household income: $49,360
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Waynesboro
BOB WESTON / iStock via Getty Images
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.8%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 51.8%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.8%
Median household income: $45,545
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Iuka
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.9%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 54.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.8%
Median household income: $46,902
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Savannah
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 56.9%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 51.9%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.6%
Median household income: $37,019
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Hyden
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.0%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 23.6%
Median household income: $69,403
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Fillmore
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.0%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 51.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.2%
Median household income: $55,533
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Gallipolis
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.5%
Median household income: $54,074
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Mount Carmel
Nyttend / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.1%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 52.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.8%
Median household income: $45,265
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Inez
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.2%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 51.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.7%
Median household income: $66,333
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Rising Sun
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.3%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 48.3%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.7%
Median household income: $55,381
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Woodsfield
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.3%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.7%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 9.9%
Median household income: $31,809
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Sneedville
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 14.4%
Median household income: $69,847
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Cameron
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 48.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.6%
Median household income: $62,965
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Franklin
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 54.9%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.0%
Median household income: $46,063
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Moderate
County seat: Bonifay
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.5%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.8%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.0%
Median household income: $64,153
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Princeton
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.8%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 21.4%
Median household income: $67,429
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Newton
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.8%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 18.3%
Median household income: $58,119
FEMA disaster risk level: Relatively Low
County seat: Cullman
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.9%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 46.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.5%
Median household income: $53,058
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Point Pleasant
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 57.9%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 49.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 11.5%
Median household income: $46,255
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Pomeroy
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Residents who are not worried about climate change: 58.0%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 50.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 16.8%
Median household income: $57,257
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Dover
Vbofficial / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 58.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 48.5%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.2%
Median household income: $36,662
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Vanceburg
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 58.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 49.1%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 15.6%
Median household income: $67,056
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Castle Dale
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 58.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 49.0%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 19.9%
Median household income: $82,155
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Stanton
Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 59.4%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 45.4%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 10.9%
Median household income: $42,488
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Louisa
6381380 / iStock via Getty Images
Residents who are not worried about climate change: 59.7%
Residents who believe that global warming is happening: 47.2%
Adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 13.2%
Median household income: $52,877
FEMA disaster risk level: Very Low
County seat: Petersburg
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