Informing climate services in Africa through climate change risk perceptions

Abstract

The context for climate services in Africa is significantly different from that of developed countries, in some part due to the disproportionate impacts of climate variability already being experienced on the African continent. One approach to deepening contextual knowledge for climate services is through an understanding of climate change risk perceptions, because they have been shown to be strong drivers of pro-environmental behaviour. Climate change risk perceptions in Africa are likely to differ significantly from those of developed countries but, to date, the understanding of climate change risk perceptions is highly underdeveloped in Africa. This paper goes some way towards addressing this knowledge deficit by providing preliminary evidence with regards to the psychological distance of climate change, which is one determinant of climate change risk perceptions. We posit that climate change is reasonably psychologically close in Africa. In addition, we emphasise the importance of studying a suite of determinants of risk perceptions in order to better inform climate services. Each of the determinants of climate change risk perceptions can provide value in informing climate services, whether it be through appropriate mechanisms for collaborative practitioner engagement, timelines of relevance, the most appropriate content and format of climate information products and services and/or suitable communication and dissemination mechanisms. Through a better understanding of climate change risk perceptions, there is scope to design climate services that more readily fit the specific decision contexts of the African continent.