Public Perceptions of Climate Change in the Peruvian Andes

Adrian Brügger,Robert Tobias,Fredy S Monge-Rodríguez

doi:10.3390/su13052677

Abstract

How people subjectively perceive climate change strongly influences how they respond to its challenges. To date, relatively little is known about such perceptions in the Global South. This research examines public perceptions of climate change in the Peruvian Andes, a semi-arid high-mountain region that is highly exposed and vulnerable to adverse effects of climate change. Based on questionnaire data collected through face-to-face interviews (N = 1316), we found that respondents identify various climate-related issues as the most important challenges for their country. Many of these issues are related to water. Respondents also noticed more subtle changes and expected them to continue (e.g., extreme temperatures, food shortages). Climate impacts were clearly seen as negative, which was also reflected in the presence of emotions. When compared to previous research, more respondents had personally experienced extreme weather events (80%) and they were more certain that the climate is already changing, is caused by human activity, and is affecting distant and close places similarly. A comparison of the perceptions along different socioeconomic characteristics suggests that more vulnerable groups (e.g., rural, low income and education levels) tended to perceive climate change as more consequential, closer, and as a more natural (vs. anthropogenic) phenomenon than those from less vulnerable groups. The salience of water-related problems and personal experiences of climate-related events, as well as differences between various subgroups, could be used to improve measures to adapt to the consequences of climate change by correcting misconceptions of the population and of decisionmakers.

Highlights

IntroductionThe emission of greenhouse gas and the corresponding changes in the climate system increase many risks The emission of greenhouse gas and the corresponding changes in the climate system increase many risks for human systems and natural environments—-that is, the likelihood of negative consequences in the future as a function of hazard (the probability of an extreme weather or climate event), exposure (people, livelihoods, environmental services, and assets in an area in which the event may occur), and vulnerability (the propensity of exposed elements to suffer negative consequences when affected by an event) [1,2]
The emission of greenhouse gas and the corresponding changes in the climate system increase many risks The emission of greenhouse gas and the corresponding changes in the climate system increase many risks for human systems and natural environments—-that is, the likelihood of negative consequences in the future as a function of hazard, exposure, and vulnerability [1,2]
It is important that individuals and societies around the world try to reduce the magnitude of climate change, and take adaptive measures that help people and ecosystems to prepare for the negative consequences of climate change and to take advantage of its positive consequences [2]

Summary

Introduction

The emission of greenhouse gas and the corresponding changes in the climate system increase many risks The emission of greenhouse gas and the corresponding changes in the climate system increase many risks for human systems and natural environments—-that is, the likelihood of negative consequences in the future as a function of hazard (the probability of an extreme weather or climate event), exposure (people, livelihoods, environmental services, and assets in an area in which the event may occur), and vulnerability (the propensity of exposed elements to suffer negative consequences when affected by an event) [1,2]. An important factor that influences the level of mitigation and adaptation is how people subjectively perceive climate change and its consequences (for reviews, see [4,5,6,7]). The perception of climate change can be understood as a mental construct that encompasses experiential (such as past personal experiences of extreme weather), affective It is important that individuals and societies around the world try to reduce the magnitude of climate change (through mitigation), and take adaptive measures that help people and ecosystems to prepare for the negative consequences of climate change and to take advantage of its positive consequences (through adaptation) [2].

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