Since the Industrial Revolution, greenhouse gas emissions from human activity have increased dramatically. The sudden influx of these gases, including carbon dioxide and methane, into the Earth's atmosphere traps more heat and leads to planetary warming. According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the atmosphere contains more greenhouse gases today than at any time in at least 800,000 years. It's probably no coincidence that average global temperatures have also reached record highs in recent years, as scientific consensus shows that there is a greater than 95% chance that human-caused pollution is causing the measurable climate change we are currently experiencing.
Despite overwhelming scientific evidence, millions of Americans do not believe that human activity is causing climate change. According to a 2024 survey conducted by the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, only about 591,000 adults in the United States believe that global warming is primarily caused by human activity. And in some states, less than half of all adults believe that human activity is causing climate change.
Using data from the YPCCC's "Yale Climate Opinion Maps 2024" report, Climate Crisis 247 identified states where a majority of people do not believe climate change is caused by human activity. States are ranked by the share of the population aged 18 and older who believe global warming is primarily caused by human activity. This list includes only states where less than half of the adult population believes global warming is caused by human activity. States are ranked by percentage from highest to lowest. YPCCC is not responsible for the analysis or interpretation of the data presented here.
In six states on this list, the share of adults who believe global warming is caused primarily by human activity ranges from 49.6% to 43.3%, respectively. Notably, the states on this list rely more heavily than is typical for the United States on dirty energy sources—the ones that emit the most greenhouse gases. Coal, for example, has a high carbon content and creates more pollution than almost any other energy source. Nationwide, coal accounts for 91% of all energy consumption. But with the sole exception of Louisiana, coal is the leading energy source in every state on this list, accounting for between 15.6% and 50.1% of energy consumption, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration.
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6. Kentucky
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About 49.6% of the adult population believe that global warming is caused mainly by human activity.
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The state's largest energy source is coal, accounting for 31.8% of energy consumption.
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The state's second-largest energy source: natural gas, accounting for 24.5% of energy consumption.
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Adult population of the state: 3,487,980
5. Louisiana
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About 49.4% of the adult population believe that global warming is caused mainly by human activity.
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The state's largest energy source: natural gas, accounting for 51.3% of energy consumption.
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The state's second-largest energy source: liquefied petroleum gas, accounting for 15% of energy consumption.
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The state's adult population is 3,532,365.
4. Arkansas
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About 49.3% of the adult population believe that global warming is caused mainly by human activity.
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The state's largest energy source: natural gas, accounting for 34.6% of energy consumption.
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The state's second-largest energy source: coal, accounting for 15.6% of energy consumption.
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Adult population of the state: 2,326,772
3. North Dakota
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About 45.7% of the adult population believe that global warming is caused mainly by human activity.
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The state's largest energy source is coal, accounting for 40.2% of energy consumption.
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The state's second-largest energy source: natural gas, accounting for 27.3% of energy consumption.
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The state's adult population is 594,567.
2. Wyoming
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About 43.4% of the adult population believe that global warming is caused mainly by human activity.
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The state's largest energy source is coal, accounting for 50.1% of energy consumption.
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The state's second-largest energy source: natural gas, accounting for 24.8% of energy consumption.
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The state's adult population is 447,401.
1. West Virginia
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About 43.3% of the adult population believe that global warming is caused mainly by human activity.
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The state's largest energy source is coal, accounting for 46.4% of energy consumption.
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The state's second-largest energy source: natural gas, accounts for 30.3% of energy consumption.
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Adult population of the state: 1,425,052