Counties most concerned about climate change in Virginia
Counties most concerned about climate change in Virginia
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 Virginia using data from the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication.
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#50. Mecklenburg County
--- 6.9% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 60.0%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 41.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 19.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.2%
- Total population: 25,046
#49. Spotsylvania County
--- 6.7% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.0%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.2%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 24.8%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 59.7%
- Total population: 98,311
#48. Chesterfield County
--- 6.3% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 64.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.6%
- 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: 60.0%
- Total population: 257,653
#47. Radford city
--- 6.2% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 64.7%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.7%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 26.8%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.8%
- Total population: 15,769
#46. Staunton city
--- 6.2% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 63.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 39.4%
- 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: 59.5%
- Total population: 19,776
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#45. Lancaster County
--- 6.1% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 39.1%
- 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: 59.1%
- Total population: 9,126
#44. Prince Edward County
--- 5.8% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 63.7%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 42.2%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 22.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 59.7%
- Total population: 19,221
#43. James City County
--- 5.8% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 64.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 38.5%
- 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: 58.8%
- Total population: 59,033
#42. Chesapeake city
--- 5.5% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.6%
- 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: 59.9%
- Total population: 180,055
#41. Greensville County
--- 5.5% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 63.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 44.4%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 16.5%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.0%
- Total population: 9,775
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#40. Caroline County
--- 5.4% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 61.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 41.2%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 21.4%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.5%
- Total population: 23,226
#39. Surry County
--- 5.2% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 63.2%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 43.6%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 19.3%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.5%
- Total population: 5,429
#38. Suffolk city
--- 4.7% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 64.1%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 41.4%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 20.0%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.4%
- Total population: 67,189
#37. Brunswick County
--- 4.5% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 63.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 43.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 16.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.9%
- Total population: 13,863
#36. Franklin city
--- 4.3% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 65.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 43.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 16.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 61.0%
- Total population: 6,227
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#35. Stafford County
--- 4.1% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 65.0%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 42.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 26.5%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.0%
- Total population: 105,985
#34. Sussex County
--- 3.7% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 63.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 44.7%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 16.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 61.1%
- Total population: 9,728
#33. Hopewell city
--- 3.7% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 43.9%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 18.5%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 60.7%
- Total population: 16,740
#32. Montgomery County
--- 2.9% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 66.2%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 40.3%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 28.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.0%
- Total population: 82,638
#31. Danville city
--- 1.9% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 65.7%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 45.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 19.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.2%
- Total population: 32,404
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#30. Northampton County
--- 1.2% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 65.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 45.4%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 22.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.3%
- Total population: 9,586
#29. Charles City County
--- 1.0% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 64.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 45.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 17.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.3%
- Total population: 5,896
#28. Henrico County
--- 1.0% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 66.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 44.2%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.3%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 58.0%
- Total population: 250,448
#27. Lynchburg city
--- 1.0% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 62.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 42.9%
- 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: 61.6%
- Total population: 64,614
#26. Martinsville city
--- 0.6% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 67.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 46.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 19.7%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 63.7%
- Total population: 9,988
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#25. Nelson County
--- 0.5% lower than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 64.7%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 42.3%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 27.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 61.9%
- Total population: 12,099
#24. Prince William County
--- 2.4% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 66.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 45.4%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 25.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 61.0%
- Total population: 330,795
#23. Roanoke city
--- 2.5% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 67.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 43.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 23.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.3%
- Total population: 77,762
#22. Portsmouth city
--- 2.5% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 46.6%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 19.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 65.6%
- Total population: 72,900
#21. Emporia city
--- 3.0% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 50.3%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 16.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.9%
- Total population: 3,968
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#20. Albemarle County
--- 3.2% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 70.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 43.7%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 28.8%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 65.8%
- Total population: 84,622
#19. Lexington city
--- 3.4% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 69.2%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 45.8%
- 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: 64.9%
- Total population: 6,482
#18. Manassas city
--- 3.7% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 67.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 47.0%
- 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: 63.7%
- Total population: 30,293
#17. Hampton city
--- 3.9% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 46.1%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 20.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 65.7%
- Total population: 106,716
#16. Winchester city
--- 5.3% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.0%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 46.2%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.5%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.2%
- Total population: 21,421
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#15. Harrisonburg city
--- 5.4% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 68.8%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 46.3%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 29.0%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.5%
- Total population: 44,592
#14. Loudoun County
--- 5.7% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 70.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 45.4%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 28.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 64.1%
- Total population: 274,158
#13. Newport News city
--- 6.5% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 71.0%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 47.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 22.3%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.8%
- Total population: 138,300
#12. Williamsburg city
--- 7.4% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 72.0%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 48.5%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 66.8%
- Total population: 13,171
#11. Norfolk city
--- 8.7% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 70.3%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 49.8%
- 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: 67.3%
- Total population: 196,794
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#10. Fredericksburg city
--- 9.3% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 71.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 48.6%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 28.8%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 68.2%
- Total population: 22,527
#9. Petersburg city
--- 10.2% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 71.2%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 51.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 17.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 70.2%
- Total population: 25,026
#8. Fairfax County
--- 10.9% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 74.4%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 50.7%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 30.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 62.4%
- Total population: 873,026
#7. Fairfax city
--- 11.2% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 72.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 48.5%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 31.6%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 68.0%
- Total population: 18,440
#6. Falls Church city
--- 12.3% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 74.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 48.8%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 37.0%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 69.1%
- Total population: 10,464
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#5. Charlottesville city
--- 12.9% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 73.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 49.2%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 32.3%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 70.3%
- Total population: 39,658

#4. Richmond city
--- 13.0% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 73.9%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 50.5%
- 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: 72.4%
- Total population: 183,783
#3. Manassas Park city
--- 13.3% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 72.5%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 53.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 25.9%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 69.7%
- Total population: 12,229
#2. Arlington County
--- 17.3% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 76.2%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 51.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 36.2%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 72.4%
- Total population: 191,026
#1. Alexandria city
--- 18.3% higher than Virginia average
- Percentage who agree that global warming is affecting weather in the US: 77.6%
- Percentage who think global warming will harm them personally: 53.0%
- Percentage who hear about global warming in the media at least weekly: 33.1%
- Percentage who think Congress should be doing more to address global warming: 75.8%
- Total population: 127,841
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