Is Global Warming Real? These High-Risk Counties Have The Most Residents Who Say “No”
https://climate-crisis-247-bucket.nyc3.cdn.digitaloceanspaces.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/08001341/2990647-150x150.jpgIn their biennial survey on climate change opinion, the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication asked participants, "Do you think global warming is happening?" with answer choices "yes," "no," or "don't know". While nationwide 72.2% of Americans believe global warming is happening, there are large regional disparities throughout the United States.
Moving? People Are Fleeing These Climate Disaster Zones
Hurricane damage? Cash-Strapped FEMA Diverts Funds To Combat Climate Misinformation
In some parts of the country, climate disbelief compounds dangerously with high natural disaster risk. In many high-risk counties throughout the Gulf Coast and central U.S. – where global warming has exacerbated flood risk and wrought increasingly devastating storms in recent years – more than one in five adults does not believe climate change is happening. A closer look at the data reveals the counties most at risk of natural disaster that believe in climate change the least.
To determine the high-risk counties that do not believe in climate change, Climate Crisis 247 reviewed data on climate change belief from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and FEMA Natural Risk Index. Counties considered relatively high or very high risk of natural disaster – such as hurricanes, heat waves, and wildfires – were ranked based on the percentage of surveyed residents who answered "no" to the question, "Do you think global warming is happening?" in 2023. Supplemental data on median household income is from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey and is for 2022.
25. Galveston County, TX
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 19.5%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 99.5/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $83,913
- County seat: Galveston
24. Tangipahoa Parish, LA
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 19.5%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 96.2/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $55,274
- County seat: Amite City
23. Collier County, FL
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 19.7%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 98.9/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $82,011
- County seat: East Naples
22. Indian River County, FL
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 19.9%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 97.1/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $67,543
- County seat: Vero Beach
21. Okaloosa County, FL
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 20.0%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 97.4/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $73,988
- County seat: Crestview
20. Marion County, FL
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 20.1%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 96.2/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $55,265
- County seat: Ocala
19. Oklahoma County, OK
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 20.2%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 97.3/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $62,505
- County seat: Oklahoma City
18. Charlotte County, FL
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 20.2%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 96.6/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $62,164
- County seat: Punta Gorda
17. Jackson County, MS
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 20.3%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 96.0/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $60,045
- County seat: Pascagoula
16. Carteret County, NC
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 20.4%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 97.1/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $66,965
- County seat: Beaufort
15. Horry County, SC
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 20.7%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 99.0/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $59,880
- County seat: Conway
14. Tulsa County, OK
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 20.8%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 96.6/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $65,229
- County seat: Tulsa
13. Montgomery County, TX
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 21.0%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 96.7/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $95,946
- County seat: Conroe
12. Onslow County, NC
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 21.8%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 97.9/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $59,976
- County seat: Jacksonville
11. Calcasieu Parish, LA
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 21.8%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 96.9/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $64,370
- County seat: Lake Charles
10. Lubbock County, TX
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 22.1%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 95.7/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $61,911
- County seat: Lubbock
9. Utah County, UT
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 22.8%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 96.8/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $91,263
- County seat: Provo
8. Terrebonne Parish, LA
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 23.0%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 96.4/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $63,088
- County seat: Houma
7. Hernando County, FL
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 23.7%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 95.5/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $59,202
- County seat: Brooksville
6. St. Tammany Parish, LA
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 24.0%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 97.8/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $76,914
- County seat: Covington
5. Harrison County, MS
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 25.5%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 97.2/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $55,211
- County seat: Biloxi
4. Orange County, TX
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 26.3%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 96.6/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $71,910
- County seat: Orange
3. Baldwin County, AL
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 26.6%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 97.7/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $71,039
- County seat: Bay Minette
2. Washington County, UT
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 27.1%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 95.7/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $71,976
- County seat: St. George
1. Livingston Parish, LA
- Adults who do not believe climate change is happening: 27.8%
- FEMA National Risk Index: 96.9/100 (Relatively high)
- Median household income: $77,978
- County seat: Livingston
Sponsor
Find a Vetted Financial Advisor
- Finding a fiduciary financial advisor doesn't have to be hard. SmartAsset's free tool matches you with up to 3 financial advisors that serve your area in 5 minutes.
- Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. Get on the path toward achieving your financial goals!