Counties most concerned about climate change in Massachusetts
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September 2, 2021
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Counties most concerned about climate change in Massachusetts
Nationally, 72% of Americans believe global warming is happening. But when public opinion researchers zoom in on Americans, they find that attitudes and opinions about climate change can vary drastically from county to county—even when those counties are next door. Public opinion factors into how policy-makers respond to climate change, including taking steps to reduce CO2 levels and mitigate harmful impacts already being experienced. Stacker compiled a list of counties most concerned about climate change in Massachusetts using data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
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Marcbela (Marc N. Belanger) // Wikimedia Commons
#14. Bristol County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 63.5%
--- 8.7% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 67.1%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 25.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.5%
- Total population: 442,309
--- 8.7% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 67.1%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 25.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.5%
- Total population: 442,309
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#13. Hampden County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 63.7%
--- 8.3% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 25.0%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.4%
- Total population: 366,214
--- 8.3% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 25.0%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.4%
- Total population: 366,214
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#12. Barnstable County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 64.1%
--- 7.7% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 67.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 38.5%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.2%
- Total population: 180,576
--- 7.7% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 67.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 38.5%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.2%
- Total population: 180,576
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Daderot // Wikimedia Commons
#11. Worcester County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 64.6%
--- 7.0% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 66.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 39.6%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 27.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.9%
- Total population: 645,548
--- 7.0% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 66.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 39.6%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 27.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.9%
- Total population: 645,548
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#10. Plymouth County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 64.7%
--- 6.9% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 70.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 41.7%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 27.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.9%
- Total population: 399,612
--- 6.9% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 70.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 41.7%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 27.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.9%
- Total population: 399,612
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AlexiusHoratius // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Franklin County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 67.9%
--- 2.2% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 71.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.9%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.8%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 65.3%
- Total population: 58,375
--- 2.2% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 71.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.9%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.8%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 65.3%
- Total population: 58,375
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Protophobic // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Berkshire County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 68.4%
--- 1.6% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 71.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 42.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.2%
- Total population: 105,195
--- 1.6% lower than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 71.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 42.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.2%
- Total population: 105,195
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#7. Nantucket County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 69.7%
--- 0.3% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 73.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 44.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.0%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.5%
- Total population: 8,875
--- 0.3% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 73.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 44.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.0%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.5%
- Total population: 8,875
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John Phelan // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Hampshire County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 70.2%
--- 1.1% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 74.1%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 43.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 68.7%
- Total population: 136,825
--- 1.1% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 74.1%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 43.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 68.7%
- Total population: 136,825
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Jwgetchell // Wikimedia Commons
#5. Dukes County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 70.9%
--- 2.0% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 73.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 44.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 67.6%
- Total population: 14,030
--- 2.0% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 73.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 44.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 67.6%
- Total population: 14,030
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Bobak // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Essex County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 71.2%
--- 2.4% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 69.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 45.9%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.6%
- Total population: 611,927
--- 2.4% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 69.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 45.9%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.6%
- Total population: 611,927
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#3. Middlesex County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 73.0%
--- 5.1% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 73.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 48.6%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 34.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 69.9%
- Total population: 1,273,976
--- 5.1% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 73.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 48.6%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 34.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 69.9%
- Total population: 1,273,976
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#2. Norfolk County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 73.0%
--- 5.1% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 74.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 48.3%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 71.2%
- Total population: 549,344
--- 5.1% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 74.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 48.3%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 71.2%
- Total population: 549,344
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#1. Suffolk County
- Percentage who are worried about climate change: 78.8%
--- 13.4% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 77.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 54.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.4%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 76.7%
- Total population: 657,596
--- 13.4% higher than Massachusetts average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 77.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 54.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.4%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 76.7%
- Total population: 657,596
