Inequities in Climate Change Perceptions: The Rural Paradox

The southeastern United States faces escalating climate threats, including hurricanes, sea-level rise, flooding, and extreme heat, with socially and economically disadvantaged groups bearing disproportionate impacts. The low, near sea-level topography of Eastern North Carolina exemplifies these inequities. Spanning more than 15,000 square miles, the region’s proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, extensive estuaries, and rural setting heighten vulnerability, while poverty, lower education, and limited access to health care, transportation, and digital infrastructure amplify risks. Despite these vulnerabilities, little research has examined how communities in the region perceive climate change. The primary objective was to assess local climate beliefs, risks, behaviors, and policy support across Eastern North Carolina, and to evaluate whether these diverged from modeled state and national estimates. A secondary objective was to examine variation in perceptions using county-level indicators of climate vulnerability: urbanicity, economic burden, and environmental sensitivity. Survey questions were embedded in a cross-sectional health assessment across 36 counties in Eastern North Carolina from April 1 to July 1, 2021. A total of 15,961 adults completed the survey in English or Spanish. Individual responses were weighted and compared with state and national modeled estimates. Climate-vulnerability classifications and participant responses were assessed at the county level. Multivariable logistic regression identified demographic, socioeconomic, and geographic predictors of perceptions. Findings showed that participants in Eastern North Carolina were less likely to believe climate change is occurring (68.4% vs. 71–72%) or to worry about its effects (54.2% vs. 64–65%) compared with state and national modeled estimates. Perceptions varied significantly by socioeconomic status, race/ethnicity, age, and county-level classifications, with urban and more economically advantaged counties reporting higher perceived risks and stronger policy support than rural, disadvantaged areas. Promoting climate literacy, fostering community champions, and amplifying local voices are critical for addressing climate vulnerabilities and provide a scalable model for equity-focused, community-driven strategies to build resilience across diverse regions. Keywords : community engagement, vulnerability, global warming, mitigation, adaptation, inequality, susceptibility