
Counties most concerned about climate change in New York
Counties most concerned about climate change in New York
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 New York using data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
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#50. Cattaraugus County
--- 18.6% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 58.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 34.2%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 21.5%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 54.6%
- Total population: 60,247
#49. Livingston County
--- 18.4% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 61.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 35.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.0%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 52.8%
- Total population: 52,311
#48. Chautauqua County
--- 17.6% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 36.5%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 22.5%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.4%
- Total population: 102,911
#47. Madison County
--- 17.3% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 36.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 55.8%
- Total population: 57,436
#46. Herkimer County
--- 17.3% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 61.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 35.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 56.8%
- Total population: 49,443
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#45. Schoharie County
--- 17.1% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 61.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 36.4%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.8%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 56.3%
- Total population: 25,709

#44. Oneida County
--- 17.0% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 60.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 36.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 22.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 53.4%
- Total population: 181,702

#43. Cayuga County
--- 16.0% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 35.2%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 22.0%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.1%
- Total population: 62,239
#42. Chenango County
--- 15.6% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 36.5%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.5%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.9%
- Total population: 38,209
#41. Delaware County
--- 15.6% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 37.6%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.9%
- Total population: 37,648
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#40. Jefferson County
--- 15.5% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 64.2%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 38.3%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.4%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.2%
- Total population: 86,672
#39. Seneca County
--- 15.5% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 38.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 22.5%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 56.4%
- Total population: 27,698
#38. Schuyler County
--- 14.9% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 63.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 36.4%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.5%
- Total population: 14,511
#37. Chemung County
--- 14.8% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 65.2%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 36.4%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 22.4%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.1%
- Total population: 67,081

#36. Broome County
--- 14.5% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 63.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 38.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.0%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.0%
- Total population: 156,437
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#35. Montgomery County
--- 14.5% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 37.6%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 22.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.4%
- Total population: 38,143

#34. Cortland County
--- 14.3% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 64.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 38.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.6%
- Total population: 38,685
#33. Warren County
--- 14.2% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 65.7%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 37.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.7%
- Total population: 52,522
#32. Washington County
--- 13.4% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 64.0%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 36.5%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 22.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 61.4%
- Total population: 49,916
#31. Ontario County
--- 13.0% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 65.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 36.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.5%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 59.2%
- Total population: 86,906
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#30. St. Lawrence County
--- 12.8% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 65.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 37.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 59.7%
- Total population: 87,139
#29. Sullivan County
--- 12.4% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 63.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 39.2%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 21.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 56.8%
- Total population: 59,179

#28. Essex County
--- 12.4% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 66.0%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 38.4%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.4%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.1%
- Total population: 31,426

#27. Greene County
--- 12.3% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 61.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 36.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 21.8%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.4%
- Total population: 39,561

#26. Clinton County
--- 12.3% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 66.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 37.9%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.8%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.9%
- Total population: 66,257
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#25. Saratoga County
--- 11.9% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 37.5%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 25.4%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 59.9%
- Total population: 180,410

#24. Otsego County
--- 11.7% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 66.0%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 39.5%
- 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: 59.9%
- Total population: 50,369
#23. Franklin County
--- 11.3% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 65.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.5%
- Total population: 40,781

#22. Yates County
--- 10.7% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 63.7%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.2%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 26.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.7%
- Total population: 19,360

#21. Putnam County
--- 10.2% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 67.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 39.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 26.3%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.0%
- Total population: 78,763
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#20. Erie County
--- 9.0% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 72.0%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.5%
- Total population: 731,325
#19. Schenectady County
--- 8.9% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 39.9%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.4%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.3%
- Total population: 121,409

#18. Onondaga County
--- 8.8% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.7%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.3%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.9%
- Total population: 364,197
#17. Rensselaer County
--- 8.4% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.1%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 38.9%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.3%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.5%
- Total population: 127,706
#16. Orange County
--- 7.6% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 69.2%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 43.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.3%
- Total population: 281,129
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#15. Ulster County
--- 6.9% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 69.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 41.3%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 25.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.0%
- Total population: 146,886
#14. Columbia County
--- 6.6% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.2%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.3%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 26.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.1%
- Total population: 49,954

#13. Monroe County
--- 6.5% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 70.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 39.6%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.4%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 61.9%
- Total population: 586,878

#12. Nassau County
--- 5.2% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 70.0%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 47.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 27.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.7%
- Total population: 1,061,458

#11. Dutchess County
--- 4.6% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.1%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 41.7%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 25.3%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.4%
- Total population: 236,844
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#10. Rockland County
--- 4.4% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 71.7%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 46.6%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 26.3%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.3%
- Total population: 233,625
#9. Suffolk County
--- 4.0% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 72.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 43.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 69.2%
- Total population: 1,164,990

#8. Richmond County
--- 3.4% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 70.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 47.7%
- 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: 64.4%
- Total population: 369,597

#7. Albany County
--- 1.4% lower than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 73.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 44.5%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 26.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.8%
- Total population: 250,031

#6. Westchester County
--- 2.6% higher than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 75.1%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 49.2%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.3%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 70.9%
- Total population: 751,714
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#5. Kings County
--- 3.3% higher than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 73.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 51.9%
- 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: 66.4%
- Total population: 2,000,987

#4. Tompkins County
--- 5.6% higher than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 76.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 48.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 72.4%
- Total population: 87,602
#3. Bronx County
--- 9.7% higher than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 73.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 59.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 21.8%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 72.8%
- Total population: 1,077,463
#2. Queens County
--- 9.7% higher than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 77.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 57.3%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.3%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 71.1%
- Total population: 1,833,055

#1. New York County
--- 12.4% higher than New York average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 81.1%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 51.5%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.3%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 77.3%
- Total population: 1,396,707
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