Title of the project: “A Study on the awareness of climate change”

Hypothesis: The urban population is aware about the impact of climate change.

Objectives: 1. To assess the awareness regarding climate change in an urban

community.

2. To recommended the awareness campaigns regarding climate change and its health
hazards

Review of literature: Lorenzoni and Pidgeon (2006) examined how climate change is
conceptualized by publics in Europe and in the USA. The study found that although
there is widespread concern about climate change, it is of secondary importance in
comparison to other issues in people’s daily lives. Most individuals relate to climate
change through personal experience, knowledge, the balance of benefits and costs, and
trust in other societal actors. They analyze these factors through findings from various
surveys and studies, which highlight both the distinctiveness and some shared
perspectives at a generalized level.[9]

According to Rishi et al., it can be understood firstly, through the analysis of human
psyche and how seriously it is concerned about its possible impacts on generation to
come, and their emotional involvement with the problem, i.e. the affective concern of
people. Secondly, the cognitive aspects of human psyche are also very important. If
people are not properly aware of the nature of problem of climate change and how it is
going to affect them, they will never be emotionally concerned about the whole issue.
After cognitive understanding and affective concerns, the need for actual action or
conative component arises to resolve the problem [4]

Relevance

Climate change has emerged as one of the most devastating environmental threats.
Global climate change impacts on human and natural systems are predicated to be
severe. As evidence of climate change and its impact continues to be amassed, it has
become clear that many of the causes of climate change are anthropogenic in nature
through lifestyles, It is also predicted that climate change will have detrimental effects
upon agriculture and fisheries, and may even result in collapsing ecosystems.

[1] There is an urgent need to sensitize the general population regarding global warming
and climate change.
[2] Motivation for voluntary mitigation is mostly dependent on perceived susceptibility
to threats and severity of climate change or climate variability impacts, whereas
adaption is largely dependent on the availability of information relevant to climate
change.

[3] Strategic action is required both from individuals and the private/public sector to
prevent harmful corollaries from climate change to individuals and society at large.
There is a strong need to address issues related to adaptation, vulnerability, and coping
in developing nations as these have most of the world’s urban population, high-risk
urban sites, and the largest deficiencies in adaptive capacity.

[4] To address all these issues effectively, it is essential to assess awareness regarding
climate change in the general population. In response to this issue, the present survey
was conducted with the aim of assessing the awareness of the urban general population
residing in the urban area of the city.

Materials and Method used:

The cross-sectional survey was conducted in the urban adult population who has given
the written consent. A pre-tested questionnaire was used for a face to face interview.
Responses were evaluated. The purposes of the survey and all the terms used in the
survey were explained to the respondents and confidentially maintained. An adult who
had given the written informed consent was included in the survey. Each respondent
was interviewed face to face with the help of pretested questionnaire which has both
close-ended and open-ended questions. The data were analyzed.

Statistical Analysis Used: Proportions, percentage.

Description of method followed:

To conduct this survey an urban population was selected in the age group of 18 to 60. A
questionnaire was used to assess the knowledge, seriousness and awareness regarding
the issue. All the individuals were literate. The aim and objectives of the survey were
made clear to all the participants. The questions incorporated in the survey were both
open ended as well as close ended. The following questions were asked:

The questions with Yes/No responses

1) Have you heard about the climate change?

2) Do you believe that there is still plenty of time to prepare for climate change?
3) Are you seriously concerned with what problems climate change may bring?
4) Do you plan to join an action to manage the impact of climate change?
 5) Do you think climate change will pass like any other issue?
6) Is there a need for the government to allocate funds for managing climate
change?

Open ended questions:

1) What do you think is the most significant factor contributing to climate change?
2) According to your opinion, what are the major impacts of climate change?
3) How do you gather information about climate change?
4) Have you experienced any personal change due to various environmental
issues?
5) What do you know about actions taken by government for the climate change
issues?
6) What changes and contribution society can make to tackle the problems of
climate change?

The Yes/No responses of the participants were noted down and its overall proportion
and percentage was calculated. The open ended questions generated a variety of
answers. The answers given by the participants were noted down and analyzed. On the
basis of the information gathered by them data was formulated and tabulated. The
frequencies of their answers were calculated.

Observation:

Factors contributing to climate change

Factors Frequencies (%)

Deforestation 74%
Vehicular pollution 60%
Industrial pollution 42%

Major Impact of climate change

Impact
Frequencies

Higher temperature 75%

Rising seas 30%
Wildlife at risk 40%
Increased risk of drought, fire and floods 45%
Health problems 17%
Economic losses 30%
Strategies for mitigating climate change

Strategy Frequency (%)

Lifestyle changes 65%
Awareness and education 52%
Scientific research 45%
International partnership and cooperation 20%

Analysis:

In the present survey (74%) respondents commented that deforestation contribute

most significantly toward climate change (60%) commented that vehicular pollution
contributing to climate change, followed by industrial pollution (45%). In the present
survey 75% respondents commented that the high temperature is the most significant
impact of climate change followed by the increased risk of drought, fire and floods. The
very few number of individuals is aware about the health issues related to climate
change.

In the present survey, according to (65%) respondents, lifestyle changes would be most
effective in tackling climate change and to prevent further changes in climate. The
participant gathered information about climate change from various sources such as
television, radio, newspapers and internet. The majority of the individuals found
newspaper as the most relevant and trusted source for gathering authentic information
about climate change and other environmental issues. The individuals here were serious
about their own participation towards the betterment of the environment. Though they
had a very little or no knowledge about the government protocols and policies and
action plans.

The Reponses of closed ended questions show that majority of the urban population is
aware about the climate change and issues pertaining to climate change.
CONCLUSION

The present survey reflects that a general population in urban area is aware about
global climate change as well as role of human activities in climate change. The sources
of information are usually non-scientific materials. The awareness regarding important
agencies and protocol in the measures for mitigating climate change which is a very
promising sign. There is need to conduct large nationwide survey to generate
information. Such surveys will form the basis to establish a foundation for decision
makers for climate change mitigation activities. It is also recommended that awareness
campaigns/programs regarding climate change and measures to combat to be
introduced for better preparedness. Limitation of the study

The survey represents an urban population from a limited area; this may have induced
some bias in the study sample.

Suggestions:

Given the complexities of decision-making processes, survey data can provide

information for policymakers and decision makers who face difficult choices about how
to address global climate change. Survey data can show favorable or unfavorable
attitudes toward ideas, general levels of knowledge, and fear or concerns; it is less
accurate at predicting actual behavior or explaining reason for opinions

It is suggested that a large nation-wide awareness survey regarding climate change and
its health hazards is necessary to conduct and determine the preparedness of citizens of
a country. The effective changes in the current curriculum can be made to realize the
impact of climate change, its hazards and probable solutions.

Bibliography :

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

http://environment.yale.edu

http://www.nature.org