Climate change awareness is associated with enhanced adaptive capacity

To what level are ethnic minority farmers aware of climate change and the importance of their adaptive capacity? This study was conducted in two mountainous districts of Thua Thien Hue province, Vietnam, with the involvement of 246 ethnic households, 15 key informants and a group of provincial and district agricultural representatives. A research framework linking climate awareness and adaptive capacity was adopted for this study. The results highlighted that ethnic minority farmers in the mountainous areas of Thua Thien Hue had relative low awareness of climate change and relative low adaptive capacity. Results also showed that awareness of climate change is an important element for households’ adaptive capacity, where farmers who are more aware of climate change have a better adaptive capacity. Strengthening existing formal information channels (from extension and agricultural departments) on climate change with strong interlinkages with local social networks and creating socio-economic incentives to promote individuals’ adoption of adaptation measures were key to the building up farmers’ adaptive capacity.

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.

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

The present study was undertaken in the Saurashtra region of Gujarat with objectives to assess farmers’ awareness of climate change and to identify the key factors influencing it. A multistage sampling procedure was followed, wherein four districts—Amreli, Jamnagar, Gir Somnath, and Porbandar—were purposively selected, and a total of 240 respondents were randomly chosen across blocks and villages. Findings of the study revealed that the overall awareness level among farmers was 73.55%, with a majority (65.84%) falling in the medium awareness category. The correlation analysis indicated that factors like as education, information seeking behaviour, access to weather forecast, innovativeness, scientific orientation, preparedness for adaptation, perception regarding climate change and cropping pattern showed higher significance than other variables. Farming experience, extension participation, mass media exposure and risk orientation showed positive and moderately significant correlation with the awareness regarding the climate change. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that out of 14 independent variables, eight variables viz. education, farming experience, information seeking behaviour, scientific orientation, preparedness for adaptation, perception regarding climate change and cropping pattern showed a significant functional relationship with the awareness regarding climate change as their p value is less than 0.05. Path analysis further delineated the direct and indirect effects of these variables. The results underscore the need for targeted interventions aimed at strengthening knowledge systems and adaptive capacities among farming communities to address the impacts of climate change more effectively. The major limitation of the study was that it was restricted to Saurashtra region only and therefore future studies can be replicated in other regions of the state as well.

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.

Climate change poses significant risks to human health, particularly exacerbating conditions for individuals with chronic diseases. This study aimed to examine differences in climate change awareness, risk appraisal, pro-environmental behaviors (PEBs), and climate change worry between individuals with and without chronic diseases, and to investigate their interrelationships. A cross-sectional survey design was employed, using convenience sampling. Participants included 405 Israeli adults (146 with chronic diseases, and 259 without) who completed validated self-report questionnaires assessing climate change awareness, risk appraisal, PEBs, and worry. Data analyses included descriptive statistics, Pearson correlations, and multivariate analysis of covariance, using SPSS version 29. Moderated serial mediation analysis was conducted using Hayes' PROCESS macro (model 92) with 5,000 bootstrap samples. Participants with chronic diseases reported significantly higher levels of climate change awareness, F(1, 400)=5.88, p = .016; risk appraisal, F(1, 400)=12.68, p < .001; PEBs, F(1, 400)=4.00, p = .046; and worry, F(1, 400)=6.81, p = .009, than did participants without chronic diseases. The moderated serial mediation model was significant (effect = 0.02, SE = 0.01, 95%CI [0.001, 0.04]), explaining 44% of the variance in climate change worry. Awareness positively predicted risk appraisal (B = 0.33, p < .001), which in turn predicted both PEBs (B = 0.23, p < .001) and worry (B = 0.29, p < .001). The indirect pathway from awareness to worry via PEBs was significant only among participants with chronic diseases (B = 0.04, SE = 0.02, 95%CI [0.01, 0.10]). Similarly, the complete serial mediation path-from awareness to risk appraisal, to PEBs, and finally to worry-was significant for participants with chronic diseases (B = 0.02, SE = 0.01, 95%CI [0.01, 0.05]) but not for participants without chronic diseases. The results emphasize the need for targeted communication strategies and policy initiatives that address the specific vulnerabilities and behaviors of chronically ill populations. Future research should utilize longitudinal approaches and objective assessments to deepen our understanding of these dynamics and inform effective interventions.

Framing vulnerability and coffee farmers’ behaviour in the context of climate change adaptation in Nicaragua

It is now globally accepted that climate change has emerged as one of the key environmental threats impacting the sustainability of livelihoods for both rural and urban populations, particularly in developing countries of the South. However, both the rural and urban residents in Zimbabwe are not passive actors but are actively involved in identifying different ways to build their adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change. This study examines differences in climate change awareness between rural and urban households in Zimbabwe and explores how these perceptions influence adaptation strategies. Thus, understanding the awareness and perceptions of both rural and urban dwellers is a crucial step in developing more transformative and transgressive responses to the impacts of climate change. The study established a significant correlation between climate change awareness of communities and the nature of adaptation they embarked on. This paper argues that communities with information and knowledge about climate change exhibit better adaptation strategies compared to those with less awareness of climate change. It is thus recommended that institutional frameworks and climate change policies, as well as approaches, be developed to improve awareness through education, awareness campaigns, and media outreach, promoting their adaptive capacity and resilience to climate change-induced hazards.

Farmers’ awareness level and their perceptions of climate change: A case of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan

Climate change impacts communities unevenly, with gender inequalities and unequal access to resources shaping adaptive capacities. This study investigates the structural relationships between gender equality, access to environmental resources, climate change awareness, and community climate resilience. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with participants from climate-vulnerable communities. Constructs were measured using validated scales. Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) was employed to assess both the measurement and structural models. The measurement model was evaluated for reliability, convergent validity, and discriminant validity. The structural model examined the significance and strength of the relationships, the explanatory power of the model, and predictive relevance. The analysis revealed that gender equality in decision-making, climate change awareness, and access to environmental resources all significantly influence community climate resilience. The results confirm that these factors collectively contribute to enhancing the adaptive capacity of communities facing climate-related challenges. Policies promoting gender-inclusive decision-making, equitable resource access, and climate change education can strengthen community climate resilience. It provides empirical evidence for integrating gender-sensitive approaches into climate policy and environmental planning.

Purpose Research indicates that farmers who are aware of climate change and its impacts are more likely to adapt and cope effectively with climate change challenges than those who are not informed. However, beneficiaries of land reform, who represent the vulnerable groups (Black people), the extent of climate change awareness and factors influencing this knowledge, are not well understood. This study aims to contribute to filling this knowledge gap. Design/methodology/approach A binary logistic regression model (BLRM) is estimated to analyse factors influencing climate change awareness among 1956 proactive land acquisition strategy (PLAS) beneficiaries nationwide. A survey that included 98% of all PLAS beneficiaries in 2018 was carried out through one-on-one surveys to beneficiary farmers across all nine South African provinces by trained enumerators using vernacular languages. Findings Our findings show that the majority (88%) of PLAS beneficiaries are aware of climate change. However, the level of awareness varies depending on the province where the farm is located. The BLRM showed a statistically significant relationship between farmers' awareness of climate change and their farming location. Additionally, factors such as farm size, water use and rights, and exposure to environmental awareness campaigns were identified as statistically significant (at a 95% confidence interval) predictors of climate change awareness among farmers. Originality/value This is the first paper to assess climate change awareness among land reform beneficiaries using a representative national dataset. Peer review The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-12-2024-1035

The relationship between environmental literacy and climate change awareness of nurses working in pediatric clinics.

Key words: Climate change, Adaptation, Crop modelling, Uncertainty, Maize (Zea mays), Central Rift Valley. Smallholder farmers in Ethiopia have been facing severe climate related hazards, in particular highly variable rainfall and severe droughts that negativelyaffect their livelihoods.Anticipated climate change is expected to aggravate some of the existing challenges and impose new risks beyond the range of current experiences. This study aimed at understanding current climate variability and future climate change and associated impacts, and providing insights on current climate risk management strategies and future adaptation options for adapting agriculture, in particular maize production.The study was conducted in the Central Rift Valley, which represents major cereal-based farming systems of the semi-arid environments of Ethiopia. A second case study area, Kobo Valley was also used for additional analysis in part of the study. Empirical statistical analyses, field survey methods, and a systems analytical approach, using field experimental data in combination with crop-climate simulation modelling were used to achieve the objectives of the study.Crop growth simulation modelling was carried out using two well-accepted crop models, which is an innovative feature of the methodology used in this thesis. The analysis revealed that rainfall exhibited high inter-annual variability (coefficient of variation 15-40%) during the period 1977-2007 in the CRV. The mean annual temperature significantly increased with 0.12 to 0.54 oC per decade during 1977-2007. Projections for future climate suggested that annual rainfall will change by -40 to +10% and the annual temperature is expected to increase in the range of 1.4 to 4.1 oC by 2080s. Simulated water-limited yields are characterized by high inter-annual variability (coefficient of variation 36%) and about 60% of this variability is explained by the variation in growing season rainfall. Actual yields of maize in the CRV are only 28-30% of the simulated water-limited yield. Analysis of climate change scenarios showed that maize yield will decrease on average by 20% in the 2050s relative to a baseline climate due to an increase in temperature and a decrease in growing season rainfall. The negative impact of climate change is very likely, however, the extent of the negative impact has some uncertainties ranging from -2 to -29% depending on crop model and climate change scenario. From the selection of models used, it was concluded that General Circulation Models to assess future climate are the most important source of uncertainty in this study. In response to perceived impacts, farm households are implementing various coping and adaptation strategies. The most important current adaptive strategies include crop selection, adjusting planting time, in situ moisture conservation and income diversification. Lack of affordable technologies, high costs for agricultural inputs, lack of reliable information on weather forecasts, and insecure land tenure systems were identified as limiting factors of farmers’ adaptive capacity. The crop model-based evaluation of future adaptation options indicates that increasing nitrogen fertilization, use of irrigation and changes in planting dates can compensate for some of the negative impacts of climate change on maize production. Developing more heat tolerant and high yielding new cultivars is critical to sustain crop production under future climate change. It was clear from the study that enabling strategies targeted at agricultural inputs, credit supply, market access and strengthening of local knowledge and information services need to become an integral part of government policies to assist farmers in adapting to the impacts of current climate variability and future climate change.