Estimated % of adults who think global warming is happening, 2018

FaribaultFaribaultMankatoMankatoAlbert LeaAlbert LeaWillmarWillmarBrainerdBrainerdCrookstonCrookstonHardinHardinGlendiveGlendiveDillonDillonPolsonPolsonDevils LakeDevils LakeBurleyBurleyWallaceWallaceKennewickKennewickCentraliaCentraliaGlendaleGlendaleSaffordSaffordCasa GrandeCasa GrandeMesaMesaLake Havasu CityLake Havasu CityBerkeleyBerkeleyNational CityNational CityMendocinoMendocinoPaso RoblesPaso RoblesRiversideRiversideDelanoDelanoSan MateoSan MateoVallejoVallejoGlenwood SpringsGlenwood SpringsAuroraAuroraGreeleyGreeleyTonopahTonopahDemingDemingTruth or ConsequencesTruth or ConsequencesLas VegasLas VegasFarmingtonFarmingtonSpringfieldSpringfieldTillamookTillamookOntarioOntarioLa GrandeLa GrandeRichfieldRichfieldNephiNephiLanderLanderPowellPowellParagouldParagouldIowa CityIowa CityOttumwaOttumwaSpencerSpencerFt. DodgeFt. DodgeHutchinsonHutchinsonKansas CityKansas CityLawrenceLawrenceGarden CityGarden CityManhattanManhattanHaysHaysGoodlandGoodlandIndependenceIndependenceKirksvilleKirksvilleKearneyKearneyGrand IslandGrand IslandAllianceAllianceBartlesvilleBartlesvilleEnidEnidArdmoreArdmoreMcAlesterMcAlesterStillwaterStillwaterLeadLeadSlidellSlidellLake CharlesLake CharlesMetairieMetairieNew IberiaNew IberiaBryanBryanSan MarcosSan MarcosLongviewLongviewMcAllenMcAllenHarlingenHarlingenAliceAliceNew BraunfelsNew BraunfelsCleburneCleburneBrownwoodBrownwoodAlpineAlpineVan HornVan HornBig SpringBig SpringVernonVernonChildressChildressHerefordHerefordDalhartDalhartTexas CityTexas CityPasadenaPasadenaBaytownBaytownArlingtonArlingtonNew LondonNew LondonStamfordStamfordWaterburyWaterburyNew BedfordNew BedfordSpringfieldSpringfieldSalemSalemPittsfieldPittsfieldMontpelierMontpelierAuburnAuburnFlorenceFlorenceWinter HavenWinter HavenMelbourneMelbourneHomesteadHomesteadSanfordSanfordMiami BeachMiami BeachCoral SpringsCoral SpringsPort CharlottePort CharlotteSpring HillSpring HillPalm CoastPalm CoastPalatkaPalatkaLeesburgLeesburgLake CityLake CityCrestviewCrestviewPanama CityPanama CityDaltonDaltonMariettaMariettaWaycrossWaycrossLa GrangeLa GrangeSouthavenSouthavenMeridianMeridianLaurelLaurelSpartanburgSpartanburgOrangeburgOrangeburgGalesburgGalesburgJolietJolietCape GirardeauCape GirardeauRockfordRockfordEvanstonEvanstonRock IslandRock IslandElginElginRichmondRichmondTerre HauteTerre HauteLafayetteLafayetteMarionMarionSouth BendSouth BendNew AlbanyNew AlbanyElkhartElkhartHopkinsvilleHopkinsvilleLondonLondonMadisonvilleMadisonvilleRocky MountRocky MountSalisburySalisburyDurhamDurhamLumbertonLumbertonZanesvilleZanesvilleMansfieldMansfieldBowling GreenBowling GreenSpringfieldSpringfieldLancasterLancasterJohnson CityJohnson CityKingsportKingsportColumbiaColumbiaBarlettBarlettBlacksburgBlacksburgHarrisonburgHarrisonburgPetersburgPetersburgHamptonHamptonSheboyganSheboyganWaukeshaWaukeshaLa CrosseLa CrosseEau ClaireEau ClaireTomahTomahJanesvilleJanesvilleAppletonAppletonParkersburgParkersburgWhite Sulphur SpringsWhite Sulphur SpringsClarksburgClarksburgDoverDoverSt. CharlesSt. CharlesAnnapolisAnnapolisHagerstownHagerstownPatersonPatersonSaratoga SpringsSaratoga SpringsPoughkeepsiePoughkeepsiePlattsburgPlattsburgBeaver FallsBeaver FallsAltoonaAltoonaWilliamsportWilliamsportLancasterLancasterAllentownAllentownWatervilleWatervilleCalaisCalaisHoultonHoultonBenton HarborBenton HarborBattle CreekBattle CreekBay CityBay CityAlpenaAlpenaIron MountainIron MountainIronwoodIronwoodSand PointSand PointHydaburgHydaburgMekoryukMekoryukAtqasukAtqasukPort HeidenPort HeidenPerryvillePerryvilleDillinghamDillinghamGoodnews BayGoodnews BayNyacNyacTununakTununakMountain VillageMountain VillageEmmonakEmmonakKaltagKaltagTellerTellerKoyukukKoyukukKobukKobukSelawikSelawikTalkeetnaTalkeetnaWhittierWhittierMontanaMontanaLake MinchuminaLake MinchuminaCantwellCantwellGulkanaGulkanaEagleEagleNenanaNenanaBig DeltaBig DeltaAllakaketAllakaketTananaTananaVirginiaVirginiaWinonaWinonaRochesterRochesterLakevilleLakevilleElyElyMoorheadMoorheadSt. CloudSt. CloudMiles CityMiles CityBozemanBozemanGlasgowGlasgowDickinsonDickinsonJamestownJamestownWillistonWillistonLihueLihueWahiawaWahiawaWailukuWailukuMontpelierMontpelierTwin FallsTwin FallsCaldwellCaldwellSalmonSalmonCoeur d'AleneCoeur d'AleneRichlandRichlandBellinghamBellinghamLongviewLongviewWalla WallaWalla WallaAberdeenAberdeenBremertonBremertonEverettEverettBullhead CityBullhead CityWinslowWinslowGila BendGila BendTombstoneTombstoneWillcoxWillcoxScottsdaleScottsdaleKingmanKingmanGrand CanyonGrand CanyonArcataArcataStocktonStocktonBarstowBarstowVictorvilleVictorvillePasadenaPasadenaVisaliaVisaliaEl CentroEl CentroSan Luis ObispoSan Luis ObispoMercedMercedYuba CityYuba CityReddingReddingSanta RosaSanta RosaOceansideOceansideModestoModestoIrvineIrvineUkiahUkiahNeedlesNeedlesBishopBishopPalm SpringsPalm SpringsSanta MariaSanta MariaTulareTulareMt. ShastaMt. ShastaCrescent CityCrescent CityFort CollinsFort CollinsPuebloPuebloLamarLamarTrinidadTrinidadGunnisonGunnisonDurangoDurangoMontroseMontroseCraigCraigBoulderBoulderBoulder CityBoulder CityWinnemuccaWinnemuccaRoswellRoswellClovisClovisLas CrucesLas CrucesHobbsHobbsSocorroSocorroGallupGallupRatonRatonTucumcariTucumcariRoseburgRoseburgPendletonPendletonJohn DayJohn DayGrants PassGrants PassCorvallisCorvallisAlbanyAlbanyAstoriaAstoriaLoganLoganParowanParowanKanabKanabMonticelloMonticelloMoabMoabPricePriceCedar CityCedar CityVernalVernalOgdenOgdenGreen RiverGreen RiverRawlinsRawlinsDouglasDouglasRivertonRivertonThermopolisThermopolisGilletteGilletteJonesboroJonesboroTexarkanaTexarkanaPine BluffPine BluffHot SpringsHot SpringsFort SmithFort SmithFayettevilleFayettevilleConwayConwayEl DoradoEl DoradoDavenportDavenportBurlingtonBurlingtonDubuqueDubuqueWaterlooWaterlooSioux CitySioux CityCouncil BluffsCouncil BluffsAmesAmesMason CityMason CityEmporiaEmporiaSalinaSalinaDodge CityDodge CityCoffeyvilleCoffeyvilleSt. CharlesSt. CharlesPoplar BluffPoplar BluffJoplinJoplinColumbiaColumbiaSt. JosephSt. JosephMcCookMcCookNorfolkNorfolkNorth PlatteNorth PlatteSidneySidneyScottsbluffScottsbluffChadronChadronLawtonLawtonNormanNormanMuskogeeMuskogeePonca CityPonca CityShawneeShawneeWoodwardWoodwardGuymonGuymonYanktonYanktonBrookingsBrookingsMitchellMitchellAberdeenAberdeenMobridgeMobridgeHoumaHoumaMonroeMonroeConroeConroeNacogdochesNacogdochesEagle PassEagle PassEdinburgEdinburgKingsvilleKingsvillePort ArthurPort ArthurHuntsvilleHuntsvilleKilleenKilleenLufkinLufkinDel RioDel RioSan AngeloSan AngeloShermanShermanBeaumontBeaumontBay CityBay CityPort LavacaPort LavacaFalfurriasFalfurriasBeevilleBeevilleFort StocktonFort StocktonPecosPecosDumasDumasDentonDentonMidlandMidlandTempleTempleNew HavenNew HavenLowellLowellWorcesterWorcesterManchesterManchesterNewportNewportDothanDothanTuscaloosaTuscaloosaGadsdenGadsdenEnterpriseEnterpriseSelmaSelmaCoral GablesCoral GablesCape CoralCape CoralNaplesNaplesFort PierceFort PierceKissimmeeKissimmeeTitusvilleTitusvilleSt. AugustineSt. AugustineOcalaOcalaFort LauderdaleFort LauderdaleApalachicolaApalachicolaVero BeachVero BeachValdostaValdostaAlbanyAlbanyAthensAthensMaconMaconColumbusColumbusDouglasDouglasDublinDublinGulfportGulfportHattiesburgHattiesburgTupeloTupeloGreenvilleGreenvilleNatchezNatchezFlorenceFlorenceGreenvilleGreenvilleSumterSumterAndersonAndersonAikenAikenBeaufortBeaufortRock HillRock HillDecaturDecaturAltonAltonQuincyQuincyUrbanaUrbanaBloomingtonBloomingtonKankakeeKankakeeWaukeganWaukeganAuroraAuroraCarbondaleCarbondaleBellevilleBellevilleBloomingtonBloomingtonMuncieMuncieKokomoKokomoGaryGaryFort WayneFort WayneCovingtonCovingtonBowling GreenBowling GreenPaducahPaducahOwensboroOwensboroJacksonvilleJacksonvilleGoldsboroGoldsboroGreenvilleGreenvilleFayettevilleFayettevilleHickoryHickoryAshevilleAshevilleWinston-SalemWinston-SalemKitty HawkKitty HawkAkronAkronLimaLimaOak RidgeOak RidgeMurfreesboroMurfreesboroClarksvilleClarksvilleJacksonJacksonAlexandriaAlexandriaFredericksburgFredericksburgRoanokeRoanokeDanvilleDanvilleWinchesterWinchesterBristolBristolSuperiorSuperiorWest BendWest BendFond du LacFond du LacOshkoshOshkoshRhinelanderRhinelanderRacineRacineMarinetteMarinetteWheelingWheelingMorgantownMorgantownHuntingtonHuntingtonBeckleyBeckleyWilmingtonWilmingtonCumberlandCumberlandAtlantic CityAtlantic CityNewarkNewarkSchenectadySchenectadyBinghamtonBinghamtonUticaUticaWatertownWatertownNiagara FallsNiagara FallsJamestownJamestownElmiraElmiraYorkYorkJohnstownJohnstownScrantonScrantonState CollegeState CollegeErieErieWilkes BarreWilkes BarreBar HarborBar HarborLewistonLewistonPresque IslePresque IsleAnn ArborAnn ArborKalamazooKalamazooMuskegonMuskegonFlintFlintGrand RapidsGrand RapidsPontiacPontiacCadillacCadillacTraverse CityTraverse CityPetoskeyPetoskeyEscanabaEscanabaMarquetteMarquetteHancockHancockWrangellWrangellShishmarefShishmarefHoonahHoonahAtkaAtkaNikolskiNikolskiKarlukKarlukFalse PassFalse PassKivalinaKivalinaNewhalenNewhalenPilot PointPilot PointChignikChignikKing SalmonKing SalmonQuinhagakQuinhagakAniakAniakKotlitKotlitUnalakleetUnalakleetKoyukKoyukMcGrathMcGrathHughesHughesAmblerAmblerWalesWalesKotzebueKotzebueWasillaWasillaCircleCircleDenali ParkDenali ParkYakutatYakutatHomerHomerTanacrossTanacrossWisemanWisemanKailua-KonaKailua-KonaButteButteGrand ForksGrand ForksPocatelloPocatelloTacomaTacomaYumaYumaPrescottPrescottLong BeachLong BeachGrand JunctionGrand JunctionElyElyCarson CityCarson CityCarlsbadCarlsbadAlamogordoAlamogordoMedfordMedfordKlamath FallsKlamath FallsSt. GeorgeSt. GeorgeProvoProvoLaramieLaramieLittle RockLittle RockWichitaWichitaJefferson CityJefferson CityRapid CityRapid CityLafayetteLafayetteGalvestonGalvestonFreeportFreeportVictoriaVictoriaOdessaOdessaWichita FallsWichita FallsWacoWacoLubbockLubbockHartfordHartfordProvidenceProvidenceBirminghamBirminghamMobileMobilePensacolaPensacolaSt. PetersburgSt. PetersburgBiloxiBiloxiSpringfieldSpringfieldFrankfortFrankfortGreensboroGreensboroDaytonDaytonVirginia BeachVirginia BeachMadisonMadisonGreen BayGreen BayTrentonTrentonLansingLansingGambellGambellPalmerPalmerSewardSewardDuluthDuluthBemidjiBemidjiHavreHavreKalispellKalispellIdaho FallsIdaho FallsLewistonLewistonYakimaYakimaWenatcheeWenatcheeDouglasDouglasBakersfieldBakersfieldOaklandOaklandLancasterLancasterChicoChicoMontereyMontereySalinasSalinasLos AlamosLos AlamosEugeneEugeneCoos BayCoos BayBendBendCodyCodyCedar RapidsCedar RapidsSpringfieldSpringfieldLincolnLincolnAlexandriaAlexandriaAbileneAbileneBrownsvilleBrownsvilleTylerTylerConcordConcordHuntsvilleHuntsvilleKey WestKey WestWest Palm BeachWest Palm BeachSarasotaSarasotaDaytona BeachDaytona BeachGainesvilleGainesvilleFt. MyersFt. MyersBrunswickBrunswickAugustaAugustaVicksburgVicksburgMyrtle BeachMyrtle BeachCharlestonCharlestonPeoriaPeoriaEvansvilleEvansvilleLouisvilleLouisvilleLexingtonLexingtonCharlotteCharlotteYoungstownYoungstownCantonCantonToledoToledoColumbusColumbusChattanoogaChattanoogaCharlottesvilleCharlottesvilleLynchburgLynchburgWausauWausauAlbanyAlbanyIthacaIthacaHarrisburgHarrisburgBangorBangorPortlandPortlandSaginawSaginawKetchikanKetchikanUnalaskaUnalaskaTogiakTogiakRed DevilRed DevilHooper BayHooper BayWainwrightWainwrightGalenaGalenaKaktovikKaktovikSkagwaySkagwayCordovaCordovaKenaiKenaiFort YukonFort YukonSanta CruzSanta CruzSan BernardinoSan BernardinoBridgeportBridgeportRochesterRochesterInternational FallsInternational FallsSt. PaulSt. PaulBillingsBillingsGreat FallsGreat FallsMissoulaMissoulaMinotMinotFargoFargoHiloHiloOlympiaOlympiaSpokaneSpokaneVancouverVancouverFlagstaffFlagstaffTucsonTucsonSanta BarbaraSanta BarbaraFresnoFresnoEurekaEurekaColorado SpringsColorado SpringsRenoRenoElkoElkoAlbuquerqueAlbuquerqueSalemSalemCasperCasperTopekaTopekaKansas CityKansas CityTulsaTulsaSioux FallsSioux FallsShreveportShreveportBaton RougeBaton RougeFt. WorthFt. WorthCorpus ChristiCorpus ChristiAustinAustinAmarilloAmarilloEl PasoEl PasoLaredoLaredoBurlingtonBurlingtonMontgomeryMontgomeryTallahasseeTallahasseeOrlandoOrlandoJacksonvilleJacksonvilleSavannahSavannahColumbiaColumbiaIndianapolisIndianapolisWilmingtonWilmingtonKnoxvilleKnoxvilleRichmondRichmondCharlestonCharlestonBaltimoreBaltimoreSyracuseSyracuseAugustaAugustaSault Ste. MarieSault Ste. MarieSitkaSitkaHelenaHelenaBismarckBismarckBoiseBoiseSan JoseSan JoseSacramentoSacramentoLas VegasLas VegasSanta FeSanta FePortlandPortlandSalt Lake CitySalt Lake CityCheyenneCheyenneDes MoinesDes MoinesOmahaOmahaOklahoma CityOklahoma CityPierrePierreSan AntonioSan AntonioJacksonJacksonRaleighRaleighClevelandClevelandCincinnatiCincinnatiNashvilleNashvilleMemphisMemphisNorfolkNorfolkMilwaukeeMilwaukeeBuffaloBuffaloPittsburghPittsburghKodiakKodiakCold BayCold BayBethelBethelPoint HopePoint HopeBarrowBarrowNomeNomeValdezValdezJuneauJuneauFairbanksFairbanksPrudhoe BayPrudhoe BayMinneapolisMinneapolisHonoluluHonoluluSeattleSeattlePhoenixPhoenixSan DiegoSan DiegoSt. LouisSt. LouisNew OrleansNew OrleansDallasDallasBostonBostonTampaTampaPhiladelphiaPhiladelphiaDetroitDetroitAnchorageAnchorageSan FranciscoSan FranciscoDenverDenverHoustonHoustonMiamiMiamiAtlantaAtlantaChicagoChicagoLos AngelesLos AngelesWashington, D.C.Washington, D.C.New YorkNew York0%5%10%15%20%25%30%35%40%45%50%55%60%65%70%75%80%85%90%95%100%
Middlesex County, Massachusetts
Global warming is happening: 78%
(+8 from national avg.)
(est. 849,620 of 1,092,070 adults)
  • National
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50%14%70%United StatesYesNo

Public Opinion Estimates, United States, 2018

Beliefs

50%14%70%Global warming is happeningYesNo32%57%Global warming is caused mostly by human activitiesHuman activitiesNatural changes28%49%Most scientists think global warming is happeningYesThere is a lot of disagreement6%62%Global warming is affecting the weatherAgreeDisagree

Risk Perceptions

50%39%61%Worried about global warmingWorriedNot Worried19%70%Global warming will harm plants and animalsGreat/Moderate amountLittle/Not at all18%70%Global warming will harm future generationsGreat/Moderate AmountLittle/Not at all25%62%Global warming will harm people in developing countriesGreat/Moderate AmountLittle/Not at all30%58%Global warming will harm people in the USGreat/Moderate AmountLittle/Not at all48%41%Global warming will harm me personallyGreat/Moderate AmountLittle/Not at all49%51%Global warming is already harming people in the USNow/Within 10 years25+ years/Never

Policy Support

50%13%85%Fund research into renewable energy sourcesSupportOppose20%77%Regulate CO2 as a pollutantSupportOppose28%70%Set strict CO2 limits on existing coal-fired power plantsSupportOppose29%68%Require fossil fuel companies to pay a carbon taxSupportOppose34%63%Require utilities to produce 20% electricity from renewable sourcesSupportOppose15%82%Provide tax rebates for energy-efficient vehicles or solar panelsSupportOppose65%32%Drill for oil in the Arctic National Wildlife RefugeSupportOppose49%49%Expand offshore drilling for oil and natural gas off US coastSupportOppose21%79%Schools should teach about global warmingAgreeDisagree12%68%Corporations should do more to address global warmingMoreLess12%65%Citizens should do more to address global warmingMoreLess16%62%Congress should do more to address global warmingMoreLess15%56%My governor should do more to address global warmingMoreLess15%57%Local officials should do more to address global warmingMoreLess28%70%Environmental protection is more important than economic growthEnvironmentEconomy

Behaviors

50%64%36%Discuss global warming at least occasionallyAt least occasionallyNever77%22%Hear about global warming in the media at least once a weekAt least weeklyOnce a month or less often

About the Data

Public opinion estimates are produced using a statistical model based on national survey data (n > 22,000) gathered between 2008 and 2018 by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication and the George Mason Center for Climate Change Communication. Positive (e.g., “Agree” or “Support”) and negative (“Disagree” or “Oppose”) responses are modeled separately; the light grey space on the bar charts therefore reflects respondents who marked “I don’t know”, “Not sure”, “Refused”, or similar options. For details see the “Methodology” tab on this page and Howe, P., Mildenberger, M., Marlon, J.R., and Leiserowitz, A., “Geographic variation in opinions on climate change at state and local scales in the USA,” Nature Climate Change. DOI: 10.1038/nclimate2583. Email climatechange@yale.edu for more information.

This research and website are funded by the Energy Foundation, the 11th Hour Project, the Grantham Foundation for the Protection of the Environment, the TomKat Foundation, and the MacArthur Foundation.