Counties most concerned about climate change in California

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 California using data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication. Counties are ranked by the percent of residents that are worried about global warming.

You may also like: Richest billionaires in California

1 / 58

#58. Lassen County

- Worried about global warming: 56.3%
--- 13.8% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 56.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 41.6%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.6%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 53.3%
- Total population: 26,216 people

2 / 58

#57. Tuolumne County

- Worried about global warming: 57.5%
--- 12.6% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 58.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 41.1%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 34.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 54.1%
- Total population: 45,057 people

3 / 58

#56. Shasta County

- Worried about global warming: 57.9%
--- 12.2% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 56.8%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 39.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 35.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 54.2%
- Total population: 140,533 people

4 / 58

#55. Tehama County

- Worried about global warming: 59.9%
--- 10.2% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 57.8%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 42.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 55.0%
- Total population: 48,651 people

5 / 58

#54. Modoc County

- Worried about global warming: 60.0%
--- 10.1% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 59.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 43.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 37.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 56.4%
- Total population: 7,154 people

6 / 58

#53. Sierra County

- Worried about global warming: 60.5%
--- 9.7% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 61.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 43.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 40.2%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.2%
- Total population: 2,559 people

7 / 58

#52. Calaveras County

- Worried about global warming: 60.6%
--- 9.5% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 61.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 43.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 37.1%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.8%
- Total population: 37,701 people

8 / 58

#51. Glenn County

- Worried about global warming: 61.5%
--- 8.7% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 59.9%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 45.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.5%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 56.0%
- Total population: 20,489 people

9 / 58

#50. Amador County

- Worried about global warming: 61.8%
--- 8.3% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 62.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 43.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.8%
- Total population: 32,581 people

10 / 58

#49. Yuba County

- Worried about global warming: 62.4%
--- 7.8% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 61.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 45.6%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.4%
- Total population: 55,281 people

11 / 58

#48. El Dorado County

- Worried about global warming: 62.9%
--- 7.2% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 62.5%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 43.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 39.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.0%
- Total population: 150,641 people

12 / 58

#47. Plumas County

- Worried about global warming: 63.0%
--- 7.1% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 63.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 42.6%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 39.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 59.0%
- Total population: 15,543 people

13 / 58

#46. Sutter County

- Worried about global warming: 63.3%
--- 6.9% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 61.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 46.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.6%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 57.3%
- Total population: 71,049 people

14 / 58

#45. Kern County

- Worried about global warming: 63.4%
--- 6.7% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 60.5%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 46.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.6%
- Total population: 629,553 people

15 / 58

#44. Placer County

- Worried about global warming: 63.7%
--- 6.4% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 66.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 43.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 38.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.1%
- Total population: 299,181 people

16 / 58

#43. Del Norte County

- Worried about global warming: 63.9%
--- 6.2% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 63.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 46.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 35.0%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 59.6%
- Total population: 21,575 people

17 / 58

#42. Trinity County

- Worried about global warming: 63.9%
--- 6.2% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 65.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 46.1%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 41.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 61.1%
- Total population: 10,534 people

18 / 58

#41. Mariposa County

- Worried about global warming: 64.3%
--- 5.8% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 65.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 47.1%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 44.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.4%
- Total population: 14,578 people

19 / 58

#40. Butte County

- Worried about global warming: 65.2%
--- 5.0% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 64.9%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 45.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 39.0%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.9%
- Total population: 180,380 people

20 / 58

#39. Siskiyou County

- Worried about global warming: 65.5%
--- 4.7% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 65.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 44.6%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 38.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.3%
- Total population: 34,638 people

You may also like: Fastest-growing jobs in California

21 / 58

#38. Colusa County

- Worried about global warming: 65.9%
--- 4.2% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 61.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 48.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.2%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.6%
- Total population: 15,609 people

22 / 58

#37. Kings County

- Worried about global warming: 66.1%
--- 4.1% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 63.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 50.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.8%
- Total population: 109,655 people

23 / 58

#36. Nevada County

- Worried about global warming: 66.5%
--- 3.6% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 67.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 45.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 43.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.6%
- Total population: 82,142 people

24 / 58

#35. San Luis Obispo County

- Worried about global warming: 68.0%
--- 2.1% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 67.5%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 47.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 41.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 65.5%
- Total population: 231,986 people

25 / 58

#34. Inyo County

- Worried about global warming: 68.2%
--- 2.0% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 67.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 49.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 41.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.6%
- Total population: 14,368 people

You may also like: Most common jobs 150 years ago in California

26 / 58

#33. Stanislaus County

- Worried about global warming: 68.4%
--- 1.8% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 64.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 51.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.9%
- Total population: 395,573 people

27 / 58

#32. Lake County

- Worried about global warming: 68.4%
--- 1.8% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 68.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 48.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 40.1%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 65.6%
- Total population: 50,793 people

28 / 58

#31. Tulare County

- Worried about global warming: 68.8%
--- 1.3% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 67.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 52.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.4%
- Total population: 318,744 people

29 / 58

#30. Solano County

- Worried about global warming: 68.9%
--- 1.2% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 68.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 49.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 34.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.4%
- Total population: 342,993 people

30 / 58

#29. Orange County

- Worried about global warming: 69.0%
--- 1.1% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 67.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 52.6%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.2%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.5%
- Total population: 2,463,536 people

You may also like: Highest-earning counties in California

31 / 58

#28. Sacramento County

- Worried about global warming: 69.1%
--- 1.0% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 67.8%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 51.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 35.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 65.1%
- Total population: 1,161,377 people

32 / 58

#27. San Diego County

- Worried about global warming: 69.7%
--- 0.4% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 65.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 50.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 38.2%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 61.5%
- Total population: 2,593,337 people

33 / 58

#26. Ventura County

- Worried about global warming: 69.8%
--- 0.3% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 70.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 50.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 61.0%
- Total population: 650,477 people

34 / 58

#25. Madera County

- Worried about global warming: 69.9%
--- 0.3% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 65.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 50.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.8%
- Total population: 112,581 people

35 / 58

#24. San Joaquin County

- Worried about global warming: 69.9%
--- 0.3% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 67.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 51.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.9%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 67.8%
- Total population: 539,901 people

36 / 58

#23. Mendocino County

- Worried about global warming: 70.1%
--- 0.1% lower than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 69.9%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 50.7%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 39.7%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.6%
- Total population: 68,523 people

37 / 58

#22. Riverside County

- Worried about global warming: 70.8%
--- 0.7% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 65.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 50.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 34.6%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.8%
- Total population: 1,797,289 people

38 / 58

#21. Mono County

- Worried about global warming: 70.9%
--- 0.7% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 70.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 51.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 44.5%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.3%
- Total population: 11,659 people

39 / 58

#20. Merced County

- Worried about global warming: 71.0%
--- 0.9% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 68.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 53.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.2%
- Total population: 190,920 people

40 / 58

#19. Humboldt County

- Worried about global warming: 71.3%
--- 1.1% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 72.1%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 48.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 42.2%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.4%
- Total population: 109,804 people

41 / 58

#18. San Bernardino County

- Worried about global warming: 71.3%
--- 1.2% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 68.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 53.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.6%
- Total population: 1,577,460 people

42 / 58

#17. Napa County

- Worried about global warming: 72.1%
--- 2.0% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 70.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 51.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 38.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 68.2%
- Total population: 110,423 people

43 / 58

#16. San Benito County

- Worried about global warming: 72.2%
--- 2.0% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 69.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 51.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.4%
- Total population: 44,697 people

44 / 58

#15. Alpine County

- Worried about global warming: 72.3%
--- 2.2% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 71.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 52.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 43.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.9%
- Total population: 835 people

45 / 58

#14. Sonoma County

- Worried about global warming: 73.0%
--- 2.9% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 71.4%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 52.7%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 41.1%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 68.5%
- Total population: 400,580 people

You may also like: Best counties to raise a family in California

46 / 58

#13. Fresno County

- Worried about global warming: 73.4%
--- 3.2% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 67.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 55.2%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.1%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.1%
- Total population: 703,679 people

47 / 58

#12. Santa Barbara County

- Worried about global warming: 73.5%
--- 3.4% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 72.5%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 54.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 42.0%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 67.6%
- Total population: 345,645 people

48 / 58

#11. Contra Costa County

- Worried about global warming: 73.9%
--- 3.8% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 75.5%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 55.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 42.0%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.8%
- Total population: 881,047 people

49 / 58

#10. Los Angeles County

- Worried about global warming: 74.1%
--- 4.0% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 71.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 59.3%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.9%
- Total population: 7,866,812 people

50 / 58

#9. Marin County

- Worried about global warming: 74.6%
--- 4.5% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 74.4%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 53.5%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 48.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 70.3%
- Total population: 207,311 people

51 / 58

#8. Monterey County

- Worried about global warming: 74.6%
--- 4.5% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 71.3%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 54.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 68.4%
- Total population: 319,541 people

52 / 58

#7. Yolo County

- Worried about global warming: 74.7%
--- 4.6% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 74.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 54.6%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 41.2%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 69.4%
- Total population: 171,327 people

53 / 58

#6. Santa Cruz County

- Worried about global warming: 75.1%
--- 4.9% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 75.2%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 54.9%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 43.6%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 74.6%
- Total population: 220,842 people

54 / 58

#5. Imperial County

- Worried about global warming: 75.1%
--- 4.9% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 71.4%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 56.4%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 30.6%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 69.4%
- Total population: 128,844 people

55 / 58

#4. Santa Clara County

- Worried about global warming: 76.3%
--- 6.2% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 77.0%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 56.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 37.8%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 71.0%
- Total population: 1,499,088 people

You may also like: Highest-rated scenic drives in California by visitors

56 / 58

#3. San Mateo County

- Worried about global warming: 78.1%
--- 8.0% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 77.8%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 55.0%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 42.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 73.2%
- Total population: 607,917 people

57 / 58

#2. Alameda County

- Worried about global warming: 80.7%
--- 10.5% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 77.6%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 59.6%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 42.4%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 75.6%
- Total population: 1,312,727 people

58 / 58

#1. San Francisco

- Worried about global warming: 80.9%
--- 10.8% higher than California average
- Agree that global warming is affecting weather: 78.7%
- Think global warming will harm them personally: 58.8%
- Hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 45.3%
- Think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 76.4%
- Total population: 757,416 people