Sources Of Climate Change Information Research Articles

Climate change perception and adaptation strategies to multiple climatic hazards: Evidence from the northeast of Thailand

Thailand is highly susceptible to climate variability and change, driven by the escalating occurrence of natural hazards. Certain regions of the country, especially in the northeast, continue to endure food insecurity as a consequence of these climatic hazards. While numerous studies have already investigated the interlinkages between natural hazards and food security, there is limited evidence regarding local perceptions of climate change and specific adaptation strategies in this region. Therefore, we conducted a household survey in four districts across the Mahasarakham province in Thailand's northeast, with a total sample size of 400 households, where 80% of the area is outside of the provincial irrigation system. Survey data on climate change perception and adaptation were analysed using descriptive statistics and a series of binary logistic regressions. The results show that over the last 20 years, 96.9% of all farmers perceived changes in climate and that television and radio were the major sources of climate change information. Most of the farmers attempted to adopt agricultural practices, such as buying insurance, borrowing money, or applying for credits and loans (22.4%), followed by increasing the amount of fertilizer usage (18.6%), changing cropping patterns (12.4%), and starting off-farm activities (11.3%). The results of regression modelling show that dependency ratio, geographical location, current engagement in labor and agriculture, knowledge of climate change and global warming, and perceived benefits from new kinds of plants/technologies are the main predictors of adaptation choices. Overall, knowledge of climate change and global warming is more likely to influence the shift to off-farm jobs and activities (OR = 1.55, p < 0.01) and participation in community-based natural resource management activities (OR = 1.90, p < 0.01). In addition, the farmers who already work as laborers are typically more likely to shift to off-farm jobs and off-farm activities (OR = 4.64, p < 0.01) and temporary migration (OR = 20.03, p < 0.01). This evidence may contribute to creating holistic local development plans that could further enhance the economic well-being of the farming households.

Information sources and climate change mitigation support

This study examined the relationship between information sources and support for climate change mitigation among undergraduates at Adeleke University. A simple random sampling technique was used to survey the students anonymously. Data analysis involved descriptive and inferential statistics. Results showed that a majority of the 688 participants expressed support for climate change mitigation actions, such as reducing fossil fuel usage, planting trees, and reducing meat intake. The main sources of climate change information for students were Google, Television, friends, family, Facebook, Radio, YouTube, and Instagram. However, Twitter, newspapers, church/mosque, and religious leaders were not commonly used as primary sources. Notably, sourcing climate change information from newspapers had a significant positive relationship (p = 0.036) with support for mitigation measures. The study concluded that information sources play a crucial role in generating support for climate change mitigation efforts. It recommended promoting newspaper readership to enhance awareness and support for sustainable practices, collaborating with newspapers to feature informative climate change content, engaging with Twitter users for accurate information dissemination, and partnering with religious institutions to incorporate climate change messages into teachings and support grassroots initiatives.

Analysis of Backyard Poultry Farmers' Awareness, Perceptions, and Adaptability to Climate Change in Tonkolili District, Sierra Leone

The poultry industry worldwide suffers significantly due to climate change, which may affect the chicken protein source. The study examined backyard poultry farmers' awareness, perceptions, and responses to climate change in Tonkolili, Sierra Leone. Data were collected from 232 backyard poultry farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using SPSS 23.0 Software. According to the respondents' socioeconomic profiles, the majority of farmers (53.4%) were between the ages of 31 and 40 years, and most of them were female (59.5%) and married (54.3%). The average household size was between 5-8 persons, and the majority of respondents (59.5%) lacked formal education. The poultry farmers are well aware of climate change (96.6%), and that decrease in rainfall (x̄ = 3.45) and increasing temperature (x̄ = 3.39) affects poultry production, leading to high incidences of poultry diseases (x̄ = 4.11), increases the cost of feed (x̄ = 3.99), and reduces the quantity of egg production (x̄ = 3.92). The logistic regression model results showed that the positive and significant factors that influenced climate change awareness are gender and sources of climate change information. Some of the adaptation strategies practices by the farmers are an adequate supply of drinking water, increased quantity of supplementary feed, and rearing a different variety of birds. Climate change affects backyard poultry production therefore, poultry farmers should be provided with technical training and assistance through extension services to help alleviate the impact of climate change on backyard poultry production.

Sources of climate change information used by newspaper journalists in Tanzania

This article assesses the information sources used by Tanzanian newspaper journalists to collect climate change information. The main sources of climate change information consulted by newspaper journalists in Tanzania are climate change experts and daily events, such as community meetings and other relevant social gatherings. These sources are interactive – enabling journalists to obtain climate change information – and easily accessible, and use and provide instant responses. It was also found that deficient use of other potential sources of information, such as libraries, printed materials and Internet websites, coupled with overarching challenges that limit newspaper journalists from seeking, covering and reporting information on climate change, may affect the quality and quantity of climate change information published in Tanzanian newspapers. All the stakeholders involved in the fight against climate change and journalism colleges should collaborate and devise strategies aimed at building the capacity of newspaper journalists, editors and reporters in their daily activities.

The heterogeneous effects of adoption of climate-smart agriculture on household welfare in Pakistan

ABSTRACT In this study, we analyse the heterogeneity in the impacts of adoption of climate-smart agricultural (CSA) practices on welfare indicators such as food and nutrition security and poverty reduction in Pakistan. We employ the marginal treatment effects (MTE) approach to estimate the treatment effects heterogeneity and policy-relevant treatment effects (PRTE). The findings show substantial heterogeneity in benefits from adoption of CSA with respect to both observed and unobserved household characteristics. In particular, the estimates show that households with higher unobserved benefits are more likely to adopt CSA practices. The empirical results show that adoption of CSA practices significantly reduces household food insecurity and increases household dietary diversity but reduces the poverty headcount and severity of poverty of the households at the lower level of unobserved resistance to adoption. The PRTE indicate that sources of climate change information and climate-resilient trainings could help to reduce rural poverty and improve food and nutrition security in Pakistan.

Information Sources and Constraints to Climate Change Adaptation amongst Smallholder Farmers in Amathole District Municipality, Eastern Cape Province, South Africa

With current global climate change conditions, the urgency to provide agricultural knowledge on adaptation has risen. The dearth of climate change information is one amongst many agricultural production challenges faced by the majority of rural farming communities. This study aimed to identify smallholder farmers’ sources of climate change information and constraints to their coping and adaptation. Descriptive statistical tools, mean scores and the ‘problem confrontation index’ (PCI) were used to assess and describe the study’s findings. Analysis revealed that public extension services play a minute role in rural farmers’ climate change knowledge; they get their information elsewhere. The most critical constraint to climate change coping and adaptation in the study area was lack of access to agricultural extension services.

Advancing capacity to adapt to climate change: addressing information needs in the Australian property industry

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the sources of climate change information used and trusted by key stakeholders in the Australian property industry, their information needs and their capacity to translate that information into decision-making.Design/methodology/approachQualitative research applying in-depth interviews with 24 key stakeholders from a diverse range of property/real estate companies in Australia.FindingsThis research identified a wide range of information types used by key stakeholders, ranging from reliance on unsophisticated mass media reporting to detailed analysis of scientific research. The capacity of stakeholders to translate this information for their organisation was polarised; 11 of the 24 interviewees indicated they had the capacity, while the other 13 indicated they did not, often owing to time horizons or lack of current interest within the organisation or from clients.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was limited to 24 in-depth interviews and is not intended to be a representative sample. However, this limitation is offset by the fact that a diverse range of stakeholders were interviewed and an in-depth and rich understanding has been provided about their approach to climate change.Practical implicationsThe results can inform the development of better communication channels for climate change for the property industry by supporting science-practice collaborations in the timely and effective dissemination of research. This is important to understand given the identified need to bridge the gap among research, policy and practice.Social implicationsClimate change poses significant challenges and risks for built environments. The property industry, as a key stakeholder, has great potential to influence current practices. The results reported here assist in addressing these challenges.Originality/valueAt present, limited research globally has been conducted about climate change actions in the property industry. This research responds to this gap.

Barriers to climate change adaption in the Australian property industry

PurposeTo identify barriers to climate change adaptation in the Australian property industry.Design/methodology/approachSemi-structured interviews with twenty-four stakeholders from a diverse cross-section of the Australian property industry were undertaken in 2018 and 2019.FindingsA range of barriers to action on climate change were identified. These barriers centre around (1) information: lack of clear, reliable, and trusted sources of climate change information; (2) cost: competing economic demands, and the perceived threat that investing in climate change action poses to competitiveness; and (3) regulation: the inaction of governments thus failing to provide a regulatory environment to address climate change.Research limitations/implicationsThe qualitative research provides perspectives from actors in different sectors of the Australian property industry. While it provides an in-depth understanding of the barriers to addressing climate change adaptation, it is not necessarily a nationally representative sample.Practical implicationsThe study identifies barriers to climate change adaptation, and establishes practical ways in which the Australian property industry can address these barriers and the role that government regulation could have in generating industry-wide change.Social implicationsClimate change poses significant challenges to society. Built environments are significant contributors to climate change, and thus the property industry is well-placed to make positive contributions to this global challenge.Originality/valueLimited research has examined barriers to climate change action in the property industry. This research provides novel insights from the perspective of key actors across a diverse range of property industry sectors. This new knowledge fills an important gap in understanding how to address climate change in Australia and broader contexts.

A Study on Perception and Adaptation of the Farmers toward Climate Change in the Western Region of Nepal

Aims: This study was undertaken to identify the perception of farmers towards climate change and their adaptation towards the change. The study also identified the sources of climate change information at the local level and their expectation from concerned authorities regarding the agriculture-related issues pertaining to climate change.&#x0D; Study Design: The study was conducted in two different geographical region Arghakhanchi (hilly) and Kapilvastu (terai) to represent the major farming region of the country.&#x0D; Place and Duration of Study: This study was conducted in two districts which are Arghakhanchi and Kapilvastu, of western Nepal. A total of 120 samples such that 60 samples each were taken from both districts in the month of September and October of 2018.&#x0D; Methodology: A semi-structured questionnaire was designed to collect data from participants.&#x0D; Results: The study has revealed that the majority of the farmers have perceived an increase in temperature, a decrease in rainfall and late on-set of the rainy season. Similarly, radio was found to be the primary source of climate change information, followed by television. Change in planting season and decrease in the farm size under cultivation were found to be the most adapted practices among farmers against climate change. Furthermore, it was found that majority of the farmers expect to have crop insurance and availability of improved variety seeds as support from government and concerned authorities.&#x0D; Conclusion: Most of the respondents made the accurate assumptions regarding climate change. Understanding the relationship between the climate change and agriculture and perception of people towards those changes is essential. It helps to evaluate possible impacts that may result from further changes in climate and plan suitable adaptation practices. Knowledge about these findings can be useful for making various plans and policies for mitigating the impacts of climate change on agriculture in the studied area.

Determinants of Climate Change Awareness among Rural Farming Households in South Africa

Climate change and rural livelihood capitals remain the major inextricable dimensions of sustainability in this twenty-first century globally. It is known to be an important challenge facing food security status among African countries. Additionally, it is an indisputable fact that climate change and agriculture are intertwined. In view of this, climate change awareness needs to be strengthened in the rural farming households. The study was carried out in Ngaka Modiri Molema District Municipality, in the North West Province of South Africa to determine awareness of climate change. Stratified random sampling technique was used to select three hundred and forty-six (346) farmers who were interviewed from the study area. Data were analyzed using statistical package for social sciences (SPSS). The binary logistic regression model was employed to analyse the factors driving climate change awareness. The study established that majority of the rural farmers in the study area aware of climate change, in which farm size, education, who owns the farm, information received on climate change, source of climate change information, climate change information through extension services, channel of information received on climate change and support received on climate change are statistically significant (p&lt;0.05) determinants of climate change awareness in the study area.

Relasi Variabel-Variabel Komunikasi dan Kapasitas Adaptasi Perubahan Iklim Petani Padi Sawah (Kasus Kabupaten Pasuruan Jawa Timur)

As a seasonal crop, rice production is highly depend on the carrying capacity of the climate, that the changing climate requires the adaptive capacity of the farmers. On the other hand, climate change is still a new and complex issue for most people which is followed by differences in response to its impact. This research tries to describe the relationship between communication variables and adaptive capacity to climate change of rice farmers. The survey method is applied in lowland, midland, and upland agroecosystem zones affected by climate change which are represented by 32 rice farmers each. The result shows that there is a very strong relation between climate change communication variables of the farmers and their capacity in adapting to the climate change. Therefore, the diversity of sources of climate change information of the farmers and the frequency of its use, and the exposure to climate change information and convergence of climate change communication of the farmers need to be improved.

Examining the relationship between middle school students’ sociocultural participation and their ideas about climate change

This case study applied sociocultural theory to examine the climate change ideas communicated by one group of middle school students (N = 39) in a suburban community on the U.S. East Coast. We investigated the ways in which students’ participation in the sociocultural activities of their varied communities appeared to inform their understandings of climate change prior to formal classroom science instruction on the topic. Data sources included an 18-item multiple choice Climate Science Knowledge Assessment Instrument (CSKAI), interviews investigating students’ content knowledge and perspectives related to climate change, and drawings examining how students saw climate change in relation to their own lives. We interpreted learners’ sociocultural activities as having implications for: (1) the kinds of scientifically-informed climate change ideas they brought to the classroom; (2) the sources of climate change information they perceived as trustworthy; and (3) the extent to which they viewed climate change as problematic, or as having potential connections to their lives. Findings also suggested that students’ engagement with media within and beyond their school-based learning experiences – even prior to formal instruction on climate change – appeared to most strongly inform their ideas about climate change. We concluded that viewing students’ climate change understandings as a product of the unique sociocultural activities in which they are already participating may provide a valuable foundation for planning science learning experiences that resonate personally with students.

Communal farming, climate change adaptation and the media in Zimbabwe.

Climate change is destroying Zimbabwean communal farmers’ agricultural activities – a source of living for most people. As communal farmers struggle to adapt, the media is expected to assume a fundamental theoretical role of educating and informing them about the appropriate adaptation techniques. Located in Umguza District in Matabeleland North Province, the study explored how communal farmers created meaning out of climate change media content and its influence on their agricultural practices from October 2014 to April 2015. In doing so, the study used the Two-Step Flow theory and Hall’s Encoding and Decoding Model. Entrenched in pragmatism, the study embedded quantitative techniques at different stages. Multistage sampling combining Simple Random Sampling (SRS), purposive and systematic sampling techniques was used to identify the 263 households for semi structured questionnaires, direct observations and in-depth interviews. The findings were analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), thematic analysis and pattern matching. The results show that personal observations; print, broadcast and online media; and opinion leaders were the main sources of climate change information. The radio was the most used medium in communicating climate change adaptation though it was the second most accessed after mobile phones. Conservation Agriculture and planting of drought-resistant crops were some of the adaptation techniques communicated in the media. When interacting with media content, communal farmers create their own meaning influenced by their cultural values, resulting in some adopting, rejecting or modifying certain adaptation techniques. The study concludes that opinion leaders are fundamental in communal farmers’ interaction with media but their influence must not be overestimated.

European Climate Change Perceptions: Public support for mitigation and adaptation policies

AbstractThis paper presents results from a large multi‐country study focusing on public perceptions of climate change and relevant mitigation and adaptation policies in Spain, Netherlands, UK and Germany. The purpose of this paper is two‐fold: first, to understand the nature of public perceptions of global climate change in different countries; and secondly, to gauge the public's support of climate change measures in terms of mitigation and adaptation policies. Our analysis shows high levels of public indecisiveness regarding the danger climate change poses, which source of climate change information to trust and whether to support any mitigation or adaptation strategies. The high levels of uncertainty present an opportunity to increase policy support and foster behavioural changes in the future through well‐designed communication programmes. Therefore, this study has identified several aspects that need to be considered in future communication programmes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley &amp; Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment

English

This study examines the knowledge of youth farmers in Benue State of Nigeria on climate change. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 120 respondents from two agricultural zones in the study area. Data was collected using interview schedule. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used in data analysis. Results show that majority (92.4%) of the respondents had moderate knowledge of climate change, major sources of climate change information include: radio (85.0%), friends and neighbours (60.8%), personal observation (55.8%), and family members (46.7%). The socio-economic factors affecting knowledge of climate change by youth farmers include: sex (t = 2.353; p ≤ 0.022) and household size (t = 3.888; p = 0.000). It was recommended that the knowledge level of youth farmers on climate change should be improved by providing them relevant information through the mass media, movies; and by providing climate change educational platforms in schools and through outreaches. Key words: Climate change, knowledge level, youth farmers, rural farming, socio-economic, Benue State.

Teachers and the Communication of Climate Change Science: A Critical Partnership in Australia

Climate change science is part of the Australian National Curriculum. Understanding current perceptions of climate change among pre-service teachers and the Australian public is important for designing effective teacher training on climate change communication. This study employed a survey to examine self-reported knowledge, beliefs and attitudes towards climate change among adults (n=1240) and pre-service teachers (n=156) in regional Australia. Results highlight knowledge and understanding gaps of climate change science in pre-service teachers and mistrust of sources of climate change information in the general public. Implications of these findings are discussed within the context of teacher training and climate science communication.

Ideology Trumps Meteorology

TV weathercasters are a potentially important source of climate change information: They are a widely trusted source; they have frequent access to large audiences; and most have discussed climate c...

The UK Climate Change Programme and communication with local authorities

Drawing on results of a 2003 survey of environmental officers in every Local Authority (LA) in England and Wales, this paper assesses the reception and response of local government to the information being provided through the UK Climate Change Programme. Over three quarters of respondents ( n = 184 ) felt they did not have access to the best information about the impacts of climate change on their areas. Although up-to-date information is freely available from a number of official Government sources, those official sources are not consulted as consistently as the media or as intensively as the internet, despite being consistently regarded as much more accurate, credible, and appropriate to LA needs. We interpret this apparent contradiction between LA officer confidence in official sources and their relatively infrequent use as a consequence, first, of technical–cognitive and practical–temporal difficulties accessing and understanding official sources of climate change information and, second, of concerns about the practical relevance of that information for the administrative functions of local government and thus for any meaningful response by LAs to climate change. Our survey recorded considerable levels of stress, cynicism, and futility among LA officials that not only complicate communication efforts but also call into question the central assumption of the UK Climate Change Programme that simply making more locally specific information about climate change impacts available will motivate appropriate action.

The UK Climate Change Programme and communication with local authorities

Drawing on results of a 2003 survey of environmental officers in every Local Authority (LA) in England and Wales, this paper assesses the reception and response of local government to the information being provided through the UK Climate Change Programme. Over three quarters of respondents ( n = 184 ) felt they did not have access to the best information about the impacts of climate change on their areas. Although up-to-date information is freely available from a number of official Government sources, those official sources are not consulted as consistently as the media or as intensively as the internet, despite being consistently regarded as much more accurate, credible, and appropriate to LA needs. We interpret this apparent contradiction between LA officer confidence in official sources and their relatively infrequent use as a consequence, first, of technical–cognitive and practical–temporal difficulties accessing and understanding official sources of climate change information and, second, of concerns about the practical relevance of that information for the administrative functions of local government and thus for any meaningful response by LAs to climate change. Our survey recorded considerable levels of stress, cynicism, and futility among LA officials that not only complicate communication efforts but also call into question the central assumption of the UK Climate Change Programme that simply making more locally specific information about climate change impacts available will motivate appropriate action.

Forecasting the Future

The topic of climate change has recently resurfaced on many news agendas, but increasingly, the scientific and political issues mix. Previous research has noted that even though the public relies primarily on television news as a source of climate change information, broadcasting has few environment and/or science reporters to cover the topic. This study considers another potential source—television weathercasters. This research measures weathercasters' acquired climate change knowledge against the scientific consensus and analyzes differences in their knowledge on the basis of several factors that may influence their climate change reporting. The results show that television weathercasters with the most accurate climate change knowledge scored highest in the affective domain—that is, the attitudes and values they hold about this scientific concept influenced their cognitive understanding of the topic more than any other independent variable. Put more simply the “politics” of what some consider a controversial scientific topic had the greatest bearing on weathercasters'scientific knowledge.