Perception of climate change in an academic community in Colombia—a pilot study in a developing country

Abstract

The study applied a climate change (CC) perception survey in Colombia between 2021 and 2022 to gather information about the national academic community from UNAD University (Universidad Nacional Abierta y a Distancia). The survey's fundamental component was the use of Yale's Six Americas Super Short Survey (SASSY) questions and algorithm, which allows the segmentation of the population into six audiences based on their views on climate change. In addition, the study analyzed the perception regarding causes and consequences of extreme climate events, personal engagement to reduce CC, opinions on public policies, and the willingness to participate in CC campaigns. This study contributes to increasing the understanding of the CC perception of specific community groups in developing countries. Furthermore, these pilot results can help orient universities and the academic community in designing their CC communication and education strategies.