America's Climate Deniers Capital-Point Pleasant, WV

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The Yale Climate Opinion Map 2023 shows the percentage of people in states, counties, metro areas, and Congressional districts who believe “climate change is happening.” The national average is 72%. The metro where the fewest people agree with the statement is Point Pleasant, WV, where the figure is 46%. Why should the figures from this area be so different from the national average?

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Point Pleasant’s population was 4,067 in 2022. Ninety-five percent of the population is White, well above the national average. The median household income is $46,000, well below the national figure of just over $72,000. The poverty rate is high at about 19%. Home values at a median of $106,000 are only a third of the national number. Twenty-three percent of the population has a bachelor’s degree or higher. The national number is 37%.

Action For Climate Emergency published a research paper titled “Lack of Education Causes Climate Denial.” The people of Point Pleasant, many of whom do not have more than a high school diploma, are likely to have difficulty understanding some of the complex concepts about the issues under underlying climate science.

The World Bank recently explored why some people accept that climate change is occurring: “More educated individuals may be better equipped to understand the complexities of climate science and have more awareness of the risks of climate change. A recent global survey found that people with more education were more likely to see climate change as a major threat.”

Why is there a large difference between the belief in climate change by people living in Point Pleasant and the country’s balance? Probably education.