It only works if you believe in it: How climate change awareness affects the effectiveness of energy initiatives

The study investigated rice farmers’ awareness and perception of climate change on rice production in Ondo State, Nigeria. The objectives of the study are to: describe the socio-economic characteristics of the rice farmers, determine the level of awareness among rice farmers, examine the perceptions of the respondents on climate change, examine the coping strategies to climate change and identify the constraints militating against the production of rice. A validated interview scheduled was used to source information from one hundred and forty-four rice farmers. Primary data were collected on some socio-economic characteristics of rice farmers, awareness level of climate change, perceived effect of climate change on rice production, adaptation strategies and constraints to rice production in the study area. Descriptive statistics such as frequency count, percentage, mean, and ranking were used to summarize the data. Multiple regression analysis was employed to determine the relationships between selected socio-economic characteristic of rice farmers and their level of awareness of climate change. The mean age of rice farmers was 43.1 years with male (59.7%) dominated rice farming, 78.5% were married, and 70.2% percent could read and write. The mean annual income was N298.611 and mean farm size was 3.3hectares. Rice farmers were aware of climate change through some changes in climate elements such as excessive rainfall, prolonged dry season, high temperature, pests, and diseases infestations etc. As perceived by rice farmers, some effects of climate change were poor growth, poor yield, poor marketing, and the adaptation strategies employed were increased farm size, planting of improved rice varieties, irrigation practices change in planting periods etc. The regression results shows that household size had co-efficient (0.30), sex (0.509), years of farming experience (0.211) and level of education (0.383) which are positively significant to rice farmers’ awareness of climate change. It was found that rice farmers were aware of climate change. The study therefore recommends that rice farmers should be encouraged by Government and Non-Government agencies through the provision of improved rice varieties, fertilizers etc. Rice farmers should also be encouraged to form themselves into cooperative societies in order for them to have easy access to credit and other facilities.

Climate change is at the forefront of discourse in the 21st century, which is assuming alarming dimensions year in year out. Climate change specialists have repeatedly pointed out that a solution to climate change problem will require climate change awareness and its proper understanding. This requires the concerted effort of climate change extension agents who will ensure that the necessary attitudinal change required for positive climate change behaviour is achieved. In spite of the attention climate change has attracted lately and the attendant general debate, the relevance of environmental professionals in mitigating climate change and in climate change extension remains comparatively unexplored issue especially in the realm of policy making. The study assessed environmental professional’s perception on the usefulness of awareness and knowledge of climate change. One hundred and ten environmental professionals were selected. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data. Knowledge and awareness of climate change is potentially helpful to the environmental professionals personally and in climate change extension. Gender did not significantly determine opinion on the usefulness of knowledge and awareness of climate change. Climate change education should be delivered along lifelong learning approach. Environmental professionals should be exposed to regular in-service and on the job training on climate change issues. They should be adequately groomed in andragogical skills. DOI: 10.5901/jesr.2013.v4n3p61

Is climate change awareness a predictor of anxiety among nursing students?: A cross-sectional study

Is awareness of climate change a predictor of eco-anxiety? Research within the scope of nursing students

The agricultural sector is the main source of rural households’ food and revenue in Niger, and it contributes approximately 43% to the national GDP. However, there are several constraints to the sector’s development, including negative impacts of climate change. To mitigate these impacts, farmers implement a range of technical strategies. The extent of farmer’s awareness and perceptions of climate change impacts influences these strategies and hence farmers’ level of adaptation. This study was undertaken to assess farmers’ awareness and perceptions of climate change impacts in Aguie Department, Niger Republic. Descriptive statistics and a regression model were used for data analysis. The results from a descriptive analysis show that the majority of respondents (84.4%) were aware of climate risks, but had differing perceptions of climate change impacts on production and annual revenue. A regression test revealed that climate-related information is highly significant in determining farmers’ awareness of climate change impacts. Most of the respondents reported negative impacts from climate change, and the majority, therefore, adjusted their farming system, albeit at different levels. A probit analysis shows that awareness, perception, education, crop production, soil fertility and annual revenue are highly influential on farmers’ climate change impacts adaptation. This research highlights farmer awareness and perceptions as key factors in the climate change impacts adaptation debate. The findings reveal that effective adaptation to climate change impacts is highly dependent on the extent of community awareness and how farmers perceive the impacts of climate change. The study highlights that institutions targeting households’ livelihood improvement and making decisions concerning climate change adaptation need to focus on media outreach in local languages, improving locally adapted extension services, and developing water use efficiency measures such as improved irrigation for effective and long-term adaptation.

Understanding and accepting climate change is crucial for individuals to adopt environmentally responsible behaviors and support political actions aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions. In this cross-national comparative study, we explore factors associated with both climate change denial and awareness. We analyze data from the European Social Survey (Wave 8) and additional country-level data to identify factors associated with each of these outcomes. We measure awareness as a composite index that aggregates multiple indicators, including beliefs about the existence of climate change, concern, causes, impact, and responsibility. Our findings indicate that climate change denial and awareness do not exist on a single scale. Climate change awareness is strongly influenced by individuals' socio-demographic characteristics, values, and political orientation. Higher levels of awareness are found among those who are more receptive to educational efforts that promote scientific knowledge. In contrast, climate change denial is weakly related to socio-demographic and political factors and is more influenced by individuals' worldviews and detachment from mainstream society. European post-socialist countries demonstrate distinct attitudes towards environmental issues, with lower average climate change awareness and a higher proportion of individuals denying climate change.

Research on the extent and sources of international differences in climate change awareness and perception among general publics could improve understanding of the opportunities and challenges of formulating politically feasible and effective international climate policies. However, few studies have attempted to explain cross-national variation in climate change public opinion. This study builds on the relatively small body of existing research on this topic by investigating several cross-national predictors of public awareness and perception of climate change with ordinary least squares (OLS) and robust regression models using national-level data from the 2007–2008 and 2010 Gallup World Polls, which provide the largest available international datasets on climate change public opinion. The following results were most consistent across the surveys and models: 1) awareness of climate change is greater in countries that are wealthier and more highly educated, and is not influenced by political orientation or vulnerability; 2) perceived risk is greater in countries that are wealthier, left-leaning, and more vulnerable to climate change, and not affected by unemployment; 3) perceived human cause is greater in countries that are wealthier, left-leaning, more vulnerable, and more highly educated. The effects of education on perceived risk and unemployment rate on awareness and perceived human cause were not consistent.

BackgroundAdolescents are increasingly recognized as important stakeholders in responding to the challenges of climate change, with their psychological responses shaping both mental health outcomes and behavioral choices. However, the intricate relationship between climate change awareness and climate change anxiety among adolescents, as significant manifestations of psychological reactions to climate change, has not yet been thoroughly investigated. Grounded in the Stress and Coping Theory, this study aimed to empirically investigate the bidirectional relationship between climate change awareness and climate change anxiety among Chinese adolescents.MethodsData were collected through a three-wave longitudinal survey (2022–2024) from 426 Chinese adolescents. We employed repeated measures ANOVA to examine developmental patterns and gender differences in climate change awareness and climate change anxiety, and constructed cross-lagged panel models, along with the calculation of feedback effects, to investigate their reciprocal relationships across time points.ResultsResults revealed significant increases in both climate change awareness and climate change anxiety over time, with females consistently exhibiting higher levels. Cross-lagged analyses demonstrated that climate change awareness significantly predicted an increase in climate change anxiety, and climate change anxiety, in turn, significantly enhanced climate change awareness. Furthermore, the feedback effect between climate change awareness and climate change anxiety was significant at both T1-T2 and T2-T3 intervals.ConclusionThis study demonstrates a bidirectional relationship between climate change awareness and anxiety among adolescents, providing a theoretical framework and empirical evidence for understanding adolescents’ complex psychological responses to climate change. It also presents valuable suggestions for implementing targeted mental health interventions, and climate change education.

While climate change threatens global food security, health, and nutrition outcomes, Africa is more vulnerable because its economies largely depend on rain-fed agriculture. Thus, there is need for agricultural producers in Africa to employ robust adaptive measures that withstand the risks of climate change. However, the success of adaptation measures to climate change primarily depends on the communities’ knowledge or awareness of climate change and its risks. Nonetheless, existing empirical research is still limited to illuminate farmers’ awareness of the climate change problem. This study employs a Bayesian hierarchical logistic model, estimated using Hamiltonian Monte Carlo (HMC) methods, to empirically determine drivers of smallholder farmers’ awareness of climate change and its risks to agriculture in Zambia. The results suggest that on average, 77% of farmers in Zambia are aware of climate change and its risks to agriculture. We find socio-demographics, climate change information sources, climate change adaptive factors, and climate change impact-related shocks as predictors of the expression of climate change awareness. We suggest that farmers should be given all the necessary information about climate change and its risks to agriculture. Most importantly, the drivers identified can assist policymakers to provide the effective extension and advisory services that would enhance the understanding of climate change among farmers in synergy with appropriate farm-level climate-smart agricultural practices.

Background
 Climate change (CC) is a global public health problem. In Rwanda, it is estimated that 28% of neonatal death is attributable to CC, yet little is known about healthcare providers’ awareness of neonatal health risks.
 ObjectiveTo assess nurses’ and midwives’ awareness of CC and perceptions of potential neonatal health risks associated with CC at selected hospitals in Rwanda.
 Methods
 A cross-sectional survey was performed at four selected hospitals. A random sampling technique was used to select 184 of 340 nurses and midwives working in neonatology, pediatrics, and maternity departments. Descriptive and inferential statistical tests were done.
 ResultsThe majority of participants were females (62.1%), nurses (60.5%), advanced diploma holders (55.4%). The majority (60.4%) had low level awareness of CC, and only 2.8% obtained CC information at nursing school. The majority (61.02%) had low perception of potential CC’ related potential neonatal health risks. High education level, working in neonatology and longer working experience were found to be associated with high level awareness of CC and high perceptions of potential neonatal health risks associated with CC (p<0.05).
 Conclusion
 There was a low level awareness of CC awareness and low perceptions of potential neonatal health risks among nurses and midwives. Offering in-service training and integrating CC’ health risks in the nursing curricula could motivate climate action among Rwandan nurses and midwives. 
 Rwanda J Med Health Sci 2020;3(2):261-272

Given the limited research on climate change (CC) awareness and strategies among micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs), this study aims to address three key questions: To what extent are MSMEs aware of CC and decarbonization? How do MSMEs strategize to address CC and achieve carbon neutrality? What factors shape MSMEs’ attention to CC and decarbonization? Drawing on theoretical insights from the Attention-Based View, we analyze CC awareness and strategies among 1,453 Colombian ventures to identify common patterns and traits between them. Our findings reveal a significant gap in MSMEs’ understanding of essential concepts such as carbon neutrality, decarbonization, and the overall impacts of CC on their businesses. Moreover, the results indicate that most MSMEs exhibit greater awareness of CC-related strategies at the corporate practice level than those aimed at operational processes. On average, respondents estimate that achieving carbon-neutral emissions will take between five to twenty years. Based on our findings, we propose scholarly, managerial, and policy recommendations to enhance CC awareness and promote effective CC-related strategies across MSMEs from different economic sectors.

Climate change poses a significant threat to mental health, including the emergence of climate change anxiety (CCA). In this study, we examined whether exposure to climate-related events was associated with higher CCA through the mediating roles of climate change awareness and ecological coping strategies and whether these pathways differed by chronic illness status. In February 2025, 600 Israeli adults (50% female; mean age ≈ 50) completed an online self-report questionnaire assessing climate change exposure, awareness, coping, and anxiety. Data were analyzed using moderated mediation models, controlling for gender, age, and education. Greater climate change exposure was associated with an increased awareness and higher use of problem-focused coping, which, in turn, predicted elevated CCA. Meaning-focused coping was not associated with anxiety overall; however, among the participants without a chronic illness, it was linked to higher CCA. Climate change awareness alone was not associated with anxiety. A significant serial mediation was found via awareness and problem-focused coping, and a moderated mediation was found via meaning-focused coping among those without a chronic illness. Coping strategies play a key role in climate change anxiety. Although health status may influence this process, tailored interventions should prioritize coping styles in climate adaptation efforts.

Several studies have reported farmers’ perceptions of climate change, but there is inadequate knowledge available on the farm households’ climate change awareness (CCA) in Pakistan. This study was undertaken to assess farmers’ CCA. For this purpose, the study collected the data from southern and central Punjab, Pakistan, through a purposively multistage random sampling technique. Binary logit and odds ratio were used to analyse the data. The analysis of the study shows that the majority of respondents were aware of climate change but had differing perceptions of climate change. This research showed that 70.8% of farmers are aware of climate change and reported their awareness level on winter and summer rainfall and temperature, the growing season length (GSL) of crops, the sea level rise, and the causes of climate changes and conceptual understanding of it while persistently denying climate change. However, many farmers did not perceive decreasing winter (48%) and summer (31.2%) precipitation, the majority of the farmers could not perceive in the GSL of summer (63.2%) and winter (64.4%) crops, while few did not notice increased winter (36.4%) and summer (33.6%) temperature, respectively. Financial and non-financial factors such as education (1.16), experience (1.07), distance to markets (1.07), non-agricultural income (2.83), access to agricultural credit (0.29) and marketing of produce (6.10), access to extension services (3.87) and the number of adaptation strategies (1.30) were pointedly related to farm households’ CCA. These odds values in the parenthesis show that the likelihood of CCA increases/decreases as these determinants increase. Moreover, the results of the study show that CCA is a significant predictor of adaptation to climate change. Main adaptation strategies opted for by farmers include changing crop variety and type, changing planting dates, tree plantation, increasing/changing fertilizer, soil and water conservation, off-farm income and diversification. Further, the study finds that some farmers did not perceive climate change as it takes time to be visible, but they are aware of climate change. Therefore, there is a need to reshape the households’ perception of climate change and enhance farmers’ CCA through existing extension services.

The science of climate change, its effects and adaptation measures have received much attention but climate change education and awareness are given very little attention. This prompted this study that analyses the level of climate change awareness in Nigeria. 1200 copies of the Questionnaire were administered in the two climatic zones (Tropical Maritime (mT) and Tropical Continental cT) of Nigeria. In mT climatic zone, three states were randomly selected and 4 in cT which summed up to seven states. In each state, the state capital was purposefully selected while a rural area within 100 km radius of the state capital was also randomly selected. The data were analysed using statistical techniques like percentages and Chi-square among others. The results show that majority of the respondents either in the rural or urban areas have limited knowledge about climate change while their sources of information slightly differ. Although aware that the climate is changing, majority are not aware of the impacts of climate change outside their immediate environment. Majority are not aware of the adaptive measures to be taken in the face of climate change impacts. The paper recommended among others that for sustainable development and to reduce the causal factors and effects of climate change, climate change education and awareness campaign must be vigorously pursued by all levels of government and NGOs. Key words: Climate change awareness, environment, climatic zones, Tropical Maritime (mT), Tropical Continental (cT).

The multidimensional impacts of climate change are increasing the vulnerability of Pakistan day by day. The government of Pakistan has framed polices and laws related to climate change however, the challenge is the implementation of these polices and initiatives which is directly related to climate change awareness and literacy. This study addresses the central question of what the status of climate change awareness and literacy and what role media and social actors play in this regard. To answer this question, a qualitative, descriptive, and analytical methodology has been employed. This study found that poor climate literacy and awareness among common masses is one of the key reasons that so far these initiatives are not successful. Since the real chain movers of any response and development are people not policy makers or power elites so nourishing eagerness for climate change literacy and awareness proves effective. This study recommends that as a nation, it is necessary to develop climate literacy and awareness to generate public response against the imminent threat of climate change.