Public
Knowledge Regarding Adaptation and Mitigation Measures against Climate Change
in Lima, Peru
Conocimiento
público sobre medidas de adaptación y mitigación frente al cambio climático en
Lima, Perú
Del Piero R. Arana-Ruedas1,
*; Yomira Cruz M.1; Laura Soto-Guerra2; Ewonny
Ttito M.3
1
Universidad Continental, Campus Huancayo, Av. San Carlos 1980, Urb. San
Antonio, Huancayo, Junin, Perú.
2
Universidad Peruana de Ciencias Aplicadas, Prolongación Primavera 2390,
Santiago de Surco, Perú.
3 Hallym University,
Gangwon-do, Chuncheon-si, Hallimdaehak-gil-1, Republic of Korea.
* Autor
corresponsal: darana@continental.edu.pe (Del P. R. Arana-Ruedas)
ORCID
de los autores:
Del
Piero R. Arana Ruedas: 
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3682-5405 Y. Cruz M.: 
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4516-1778
L.
Soto-Guerra: 
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1636-6758 E.
Ttito M.: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5562-9012
ABSTRACT
Climate change is a current and globally
significant issue. Many countries are working together with international
agreements, developing strategies to mitigate the impacts it can generate. In
Peru, public knowledge regarding climate change adaptation and mitigation
measures has been a topic of great national interest but is also somewhat
unknown or outdated. The aim of this study was to assess people's level of
understanding regarding this subject. The methodology employed was
quantitative, using surveys administered to citizens to analyze their
perceptions of climate change measures. The results revealed that almost 80% of
them have received information about climate change, but 95.9% think that
climate change is real, so above 15% of the participants even without getting
information about this global issue have a notion about it, 36.6% of the
participants did not know about the Peruvian participation in the Paris
Agreements as well as the Peruvian law of climate change where around 30% of
surveyed are not aware of the regulation gave by Peruvian law, above of 60% of
the participants did not know about Peruvian initiatives and actions linked to
those measures. Lastly, above 60% of the participants think they are not
involved in the adaptation and mitigation process. Also, above 90% of the
participants have perceived a temperature rise. Finally, it is advisable to
analyze the awareness programs implemented by the government to convey
information about climate change adaptation and mitigation measures and keep
studying regarding local-level climate change awareness.
Keywords: Climate Change;
Awareness; Knowledge; Adaptation; Mitigation; Peru.
RESUMEN
El cambio climático es un problema actual y de
importancia mundial. Muchos países están trabajando en conjunto con acuerdos
internacionales, desarrollando estrategias para mitigar los impactos que puede
generar. En el Perú, el conocimiento público sobre las medidas de adaptación y
mitigación del cambio climático ha sido un tema de gran interés nacional pero
también algo desconocido o desactualizado. El objetivo de este estudio fue
evaluar el nivel de comprensión de las personas sobre este tema. La metodología
empleada fue cuantitativa, utilizando encuestas administradas a los ciudadanos
para analizar sus percepciones sobre las medidas de cambio climático. Los
resultados revelaron que casi el 80% de ellos ha recibido información sobre el
cambio climático, pero el 95,9% piensa que el cambio climático es real, por lo
que más del 15% de los participantes aún sin obtener información sobre este
tema global tiene noción al respecto, el 36,6% de ellos los participantes
desconocían sobre la participación peruana en los Acuerdos de París así como la
ley peruana de cambio climático donde alrededor del 30% de los encuestados
desconocen la regulación dada por la ley peruana, más del 60% de los
participantes no conocían Iniciativas y acciones peruanas vinculadas a dichas
medidas. Por último, por encima del 60% de los participantes cree no estar
involucrado en el proceso de adaptación y mitigación. Además, más del 90% de
los participantes ha percibido un aumento de temperatura. Finalmente, es
recomendable analizar los programas de concientización implementados por el
gobierno para transmitir información sobre las medidas de adaptación y
mitigación del cambio climático y seguir estudiando sobre la concientización
sobre el cambio climático a nivel local.
Palabras clave: Cambio Climático;
Conciencia; Conocimiento; Adaptación; Mitigación; Perú.
Recibido: 02-07-2023.
Aceptado: 04-09-2023.
1. Introduction
Forecasting
future scenarios to anticipate the environmental, ecological, and social
damages caused by climate change poses an unprecedented challenge to humanity.
Climate change is the outcome of intricate natural and controversial human-made
transformations that have wides-pread effects both locally and globally (Alvi &
Khayyam, 2020).
Also, climate
change has emerged as a significant catalyst behind numerous natural
calamities. The IPCC (IPCC, 2022) has highlighted
the widespread consequences of climate change in the form of occurrences like
floods, elevated sea levels, hurricanes, aridity, heatwaves, wildfires, and
more, which are being felt globally. The severity of global climate change has
affected almost all the inhabitants of the Earth, including plants, animals,
and humans, across different continents (Das et al.,
2022).
Besides, the consequences that will ensue from climate change will worsen
existing difficulties concerning access to fundamental human needs, including
food, clean water, energy generation, and manufacturing resources (González-Hernández
et al., 2023).
Society faces a
significant challenge posed by climate change. Hence there is a pressing need
for immediate action to enhance resilience and promote adaptation and
mitigation measures. However, it first requires a deep knowledge of the context
of climate change (Borquez et al.,
2017).
Gaining insight into people's attitudes toward climate change and how these
attitudes influence their behavior is crucial in motivating action toward
addressing climate change (González-Hernández
et al., 2023).
Many authors agree that it is essential to increase the awareness and
understanding of potential hazards among inhabitants residing in susceptible
communities because to plan for adaptation effectively, it is crucial to
comprehend the implementation, methods, and efficacy of specific adaptation
measures for reducing risks (González-Hernández
et al., 2023).
Moreover, the
capacity of social learning to improve adaptability and the difficulties of
managing multiple stakeholders must also be taken into consideration, so that
all adaptation and mitigation policy measures would work effectively (Lindsay, 2018). As people
become more aware of the fundamental and unchangeable alterations to the
climate system, there is a growing focus on implementing measures and tactics
to adapt to these changes (Ganase &
Sookram, 2021).
In Latin America where there is a need for progress in this area, efficient
measures at all societal levels are necessary to manage and mitigate the
impacts of climate change (González-Hernández
et al., 2023).
Peru, due to its
geographical location, the presence of diverse ecosystems, and a wide range of
microclimates make it one of the top 20 countries highly susceptible to the
impacts of climate change (Brooks &
Adger, 2003).
Moreover, there is the phenomenon of El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), which
led to widespread floods, landslides, or even droughts across the entire nation
(Altea, 2020). However, as a
developing country, political and social problems distance people from
awareness and knowledge of adaptation and mitigation measures against climate
change. That is why it is important to study how much people know about climate
change adaptation and mitigation measures, in order to effectively respond to
climate change, involving private and public sectors to diminish the effects of
unfavorable climate events, which can also be seen as a form of self-insurance (Jørgensen &
Termansen, 2016).
2. Knowledge and Awareness of Climate Change
Local knowledge systems are
a type of knowledge that is transmitted orally, without formal documentation,
and is often combined with new technologies. This combination creates a blend
of practical and scientific knowledge, as well as a belief system that is
different from traditional ecological knowledge. To establish a valid
understanding of climate change, it is necessary to engage in a process that
uses local and traditional knowledge, values, and scientific information
simultaneously (Khatibi et al.,
2021).
Knowledge of climate change is an intellectual aspect of risk judgments (Sundblad et
al., 2007).
Taking a transdisciplinary perspective, the progression from theory to the
application through knowledge co-creation necessitates the production of
practical and empirical knowledge that can aid in solving, minimizing, or
preventing real-world issues (Borquez et al.,
2017).
Therefore, understanding
the physical signs that precede severe weather or the probability of favorable
or unfavorable seasons based on local knowledge would be beneficial in adapting
to the existing climate, regardless of whether it is shifting or not (Lebel, 2013).
On the other hand,
“awareness of changes in climate come from repeated observations of weather
over time, the physical impacts of rainfall and thermal regimes, and biological
or ecological indicators” (Lebel, 2013). Further,
studies have shown that there is a connection between public awareness of
climate change and different types of knowledge. For example, a study in Kenya
showed the level of climate change awareness is relatively high, with most
households in the area reporting overall changes in climate. Climate change
awareness varies significantly across different sub-locations. The study also
found that demographic factors such as the age and gender of the household head
played a significant role in determining the level of awareness about climate
change (Ajuang et al.,
2016).
Furthermore, another case
in Germany suggests that experiencing unusual or extreme weather events may
impact people's climate change awareness (Gärtner & Schoen,
2021).
Other authors suggest that having knowledge of the physical signs that indicate
extreme weather conditions or the probability of a good or bad season would be
valuable for adjusting to the current climate, regardless of whether it was undergoing
changes or not (Lebel, 2013).
Over the past
few years, several surveys have revealed a substantial increase in public
concern regarding climate change. However, most of the research on people's
awareness of climate change has been conducted in North America or Europe, with
only a small number of global surveys including inquiries about knowledge.
Various investigations have indicated a generally low level of understanding of
the topic across different countries, despite widespread recognition of the
fundamental concept (Vignola et al.,
2013).
3. Influencing Factors on Climate Change Awareness
Due to the complexity of
climate change awareness, there are distinct differences in public attitudes
towards climate change. Based on some studies, it has been shown that there are
many factors that could influence awareness of climate change, as gender, age,
education level, and residence had significant effects on respondent’s
awareness of climate change (Ajuang et al.,
2016; Mwinkom et al., 2021).
Gender: Both men and women
generally share similar views on climate change, with the majority perceiving
it as having various effects such as stronger winds, higher temperatures, more
frequent droughts, more variable rainfall patterns, and increased flooding (Partey et al.,
2020).
Nevertheless, in a study conducted in the Amazon of Peru, it was found that
gender disparities, such as unequal access to resources, lower levels of
education, and exclusion from decision-making, can affect how women perceive
and understand climate change. Women may see climate change as something beyond
their control, and believe that it is related to divine will (Altea, 2020). However, the
findings of (Partey et al.,
2020)
revealed that awareness of climate change had not a significant difference
between men and women.
Age: In an earlier study
there was a significant and positive correlation between age and the perception
of risk to ecosystems (Lazo et al.,
2000).
This is consistent with the results of study in the Upper West region of Ghana
concurred that age and years of education had significant effect (Mwinkom et al.,
2021),
and in same line according in a study of Thailand shown that young people who
younger than 30 years, had higher scores regarding of knowledge of climate
change, than older than 30 years old’s people (Rahman et al.,
2021).
However other studies that revealed the relationship between age and awareness
of climate change weren’t found significant (Sundblad et
al., 2007).
Education level: the
higher the education level, the better is their climate knowledge (Das et al.,
2022).
In a study of Ghana, farmers who have received education are more equipped to
understand climate change and its potential hazards. Additionally, education
enhances their capacity to learn and reason about contemporary farming
technologies, which may encourage them to adopt such practices (Mwinkom et al.,
2021).
However, according to Sundblad et al.
(2007)
education has no significant effect on the risk of climate change, another
study has shown that education has no significant effect and neither does the
farm type (Jørgensen &
Termansen, 2016).
Residence:
According to Ajuang et al. (2016) there was
significant variation in the level of awareness regarding climate change among
distinct sub-regions. It could be explained because personal experiences with
unusual or extreme weather may affect people’s belief in the existence of
climate change (Gärtner &
Schoen, 2021).
Nevertheless, some other study suggests that access to scientific information
has geographic barriers, thus in Latin America and the Caribbean there is
apparently a dearth of studies on climate change (Iwama et al.,
2021)
4. Knowledge and Public Participation on Climate Change Measures
It has been recognized that
having knowledge about climate is important for taking action against climate
change and understanding the reasons behind it, for instance, it has been found
that climate influences people's worries level and response towards it (González-Hernández
et al., 2023).
However various studies have suggested that it is beneficial to differentiate
between types of knowledge, it seems that not all types of knowledge are
equally important in encouraging adaptation and mitigation efforts.
In a study of Mexico, only
knowledge about how to respond to climate change was found to be positively
associated with households' perceived efforts to mitigate its impact, while
knowledge about its effects did not appear to have a significant impact. That
study suggests that attempts to reduce the impact of climate change will
probably occur in households where the inhabitants are environmentally
conscious, acknowledge the existence of climate change, view it as a personal
risk, and believe that they possess the necessary knowledge to address the
issue (González-Hernández
et al., 2023).
On the other hand, people
who reside in areas susceptible to climatic events possess greater knowledge of
mitigation and adaptation measures. However, a study has revealed that those
who reside in less vulnerable regions and have not experienced any catastrophic
events tend to have little understanding of climate change and lack knowledge
about any action or mitigation plan (Ajuang et al.,
2016).
Besides, according with
that Alvi &
Khayyam (2020)
suggest for the effectiveness of such actions to alleviate and adapt to climate
change still depends on several critical factors including the degree to which
the local community recognizes the existence of climate change, personal
motivations to apply mitigation and adaptation strategies, a dedicated attitude
and a positive shift in both individual and societal behavior as explained in
Figure 1.
5. Public Participation on National Commitments
Speaking about Climate
Change it is evident that the government alone cannot address this issue, and
all citizens bear an equal responsibility (Masud et al.,
2015),
the involvement of the public is crucial in enhancing the decision-making
process for climate change adaptation.
However, having suitable
public knowledge and awareness is essential for garnering public support for
climate policies and plans. In a study that focused on volunteer environmental
monitoring, it was revealed that heightened personal knowledge and community
awareness can have a positive impact on attitudes and behaviors, leading to
changes in natural resource management and related policies (Khatibi et al.,
2021).
Figure 1. Relevant
factor towards climate change action.
According to the document
of Nationally Deter-mined Contributions against Climate Change in line with the
Paris Agreement, a commitment of Peru by 2030 is to strengthen its mitigation
and adaptation policies to the impacts of climate change (UNFCCC, 2015). Therefore,
one method to enhance and speed up the execution of measures in practical
situations is to integrate strategic communications into governmental planning
processes for adaptation. This will also aid local stakeholders in
comprehending the various impacts of climate change and the most suitable approaches
to address them while striving towards a broader objective of nationwide
resilience. Besides, local viewpoints and expertise are valuable information
sources for climate change research, as they can provide insight into regional
climate changes and their effects at the national level (Altea, 2020).
Active public participation
plays a crucial role in government affairs, as they are not only accountable
for intelligent action against climate change but also act as valuable allies
by providing local information following a climate event. By doing so, it is
possible to work collaboratively and propose appropriate measures or solutions
for future catastrophic events.
6. Adaptation
and Mitigation Measures against Climate Change
Adaptation is anticipating
the harmful effects of climate change and taking appropriate measures to
prevent or minimize the damage they may cause or taking advantage of the
opportunities that may arise. Adaptation can be also understood as the process
of adjusting to the current and future effects of climate change (UNDP, 2023).
Likewise, adaptation
strategies require long-term horizons, which may not be popular with government
systems, which prefer to focus on shorter time frames and ‘quick fixes’ (Tanner &
Horn-Phathanothai, 2014).
Peru has 84 adaptation
measures in priority-specific areas, such as water, agriculture, fishing and
aquaculture, forests, and health areas (Ministry of
Environment, 2022a). The priorities sectors in adaptation measures are explained
in Table 1. In addition, tourism and transport sector have been added.
Peru has a National Plan
for Adaptation to Climate Change by 2030. The main objectives of this plan are
i) Reductions of risk and vulnerability (damage, possible alterations, losses),
ii) Protection of river basins, ecosystems, territories, and livelihoods, and
iii) Preservation of infrastructure, goods, and services of the country (Ministry of
Environment, 2021).
Mitigation is making the
impacts of climate change less severe by preventing or reducing the emission of
greenhouse gases (GhG) into the atmosphere (UNDP, 2023). Mitigation is
widely discussed and successfully applied in various contexts at the
international, national, regional, local, and even individual levels. It
includes technical and infrastructural investments, renewable energy
implementation (to reduce climate change and improve energy security), as well
as improving energy efficiency. Mitigation measures can be expansive – at the
policy or private-industry level (incorporating Clean Development Mechanisms
and technology transfer) or at the individual (behavior) level, with private
citizens opting for bicycle transport or turning off a light (Laukkonen et
al., 2009).
Table 1
Peruvian Adaptation Sectors
|
|
Water
|
Agriculture
|
Fishery
& Aquaculture
|
Forestry
|
Health
|
|
Scope
|
Supply
(resources) and demand (use): direct human consumption, agriculture and
livestock, energy, mining and industry.
It
includes physical and eco-systemic infrastructure.
|
Protecting
the sector and its contribution to the economy.
Also,
attending the most vulnerable groups (small and subsistence farmers).
|
Protecting
the sector and its contribution to the economy.
Also,
attending the most vulnerable groups (artisanal fishermen).
|
Protecting
ecosystem services that forests provide and attend the most vulnerable groups
(indigenous communities and small forest producers).
|
Increasing
the adaptive capacity of health services to face climate change, and the
resilience of vulnerable populations to its effects.
|
Source: (UNFCCC, 2023).
Peru has 62
mitigation measures focused on the sectors of energy (stationary and mobile
combustion); industrial processes and product use; agriculture; land use, land
use change and forestry; and waste (Ministry of
Environment, 2022b). Which scope is detailed in Table 2.
Moreover, Peru
established more ambition targets on its updated Nationally Determined
Contribution (NDC) which is a climate action plan to cut emissions and adapt to
climate impacts, increasing its mitigation goal from 30% to 40% against the
Business as Usual (BAU) scenario in 2030 and indicating an absolute goal number
in terms of the amount of CO2 equivalent (not exceeding 179 MtCO2e by 2030) (UNDP, 2022).
7. Peruvian
Knowledge and Awareness
To get recent
information regarding people’s knowledge and awareness regarding climate change
and its adaptation and mitigation measures a survey was delivered to different
kinds of people who are currently living in Lima, Peru between February and May
using an online formulary to get their answers.
7.1.
Demographic and socioeconomic profile
More
than 60% of the survey participants are females, meanwhile close to 35% are
male. This is an initial indicator of females’ tendency for environmental
issues awareness. Furthermore, almost 2% have defined their gender as non-binary,
people who do not recognize themselves as men or women, gender neutral (Hansen &
Żółtak, 2022).
According
to the age, more than 50% of the participants are between 20 and 30 years old,
followed by those between 30 and 40 years old with a bit more than 30%, and the
rest under 20, between 40 – 50, and above 50 years old almost equally
distributed. It is important to highlight that (Thew, 2018) mention that
youth could not be the most impacted by climate change but are those who are
inheriting the responsibility to face climate change in order to protect
current and future generations.
Finally,
around 90% of the participant have a graduate or postgraduate education
background, and the other 10% with elementary or high school background. This
fact can provide circumstantial information, knowledge, and awareness about
the global issue since (Yu et al.,
2020)
mentions that a higher level of education could lead to a higher understanding
of climate change.
7.2.
Knowledge about Climate Change and Adaptation-Mitigation Measures
The participants
were asked about general knowledge of climate change. Almost 80% of them have
received information about climate change at one point in their lives, but
95.9% think that climate change is real, so above 15% of the participants even
without getting information of this global issue have a notion about it. (He et al.,
2023)
refers that people who have experienced or suffered by climate change can get
to empirically know about climate change and develop intentions to tackle it.
Regarding
Peruvian efforts to tackle climate change, 36.6% of the participants did not
know about the Peruvian participation in the Paris Agreements as well as the
Peruvian law of climate change where around 30% of surveyed are not aware of
the regulation gave by Law N° 30754. Only a third part of the participants got
to know the country involvement in climate change issue, so the resilience
practice is not efficient to improve social activities against climate change (Ling et al.,
2022)
Furthermore,
knowledge related to adaptation and mitigation measures evidence that above of
60% of the participants did not know about Peruvian initiatives and actions
linked to those measures. Lastly, and also above 60% of the participants think
that they are not involved actors in the adaptation and mitigation process. (Zerva et al.,
2018)
refers that for citizens to take part of adaptation and mitigation measures
against climate change it is important to know and interact with different
stakeholders in order to establish a trusty and mutual relationship. Table 3
evidence exactly results of knowledge regarding climate change.
Respondents
who have received information about climate change got it from different kind
of sources as follow: (i) Social network: 40.7%; (ii) School, universities or
institutes 33.3%; (iii) Peruvian government 9.8%; (iv) Friends or relatives
2.4%; (v) Others 13.8%. In addition, for those who reply that climate change is
real, a further question based on their thought of main cause of this event
were evidenced as follow: (i) Energy production: 54.5%; (ii) Transportation:
17.1%; (iii) Natural events: 8.1%; (iv) Construction material production: 8.1%;
(v) Agriculture 4.9%; (vi) Cattle-rising: 2.4%; (vii) Does not know: 4.9%.
Nevertheless, construction material production is the main cause as (Gates,
2021) refers contributing with 31% to global emi-ssions followed by energy
production, agriculture, transportation, and hitting-cooling systems.
Table 2
Peruvian
Mitigation Sectors
|
|
Energy
|
Industrial
Processes and Product use
|
Agriculture
|
Land
use, land use change and forestry
|
Waste
|
|
Scope
|
Renewable
energy provision with an efficiency approach in principle economic sectors.
|
Clinker
replacement & decreased use of refrigerants.
|
Responsible
food production and cuttle-rising feeding systems in order to reduce GhG
emissions.
|
Forest
and protected natural areas to keep and increase GhG sinks.
|
Align
to Solid Waste Management Systems using modern technology.
|
Source: (UNFCCC, 2023).
Table 3
Survey question
related to knowledge about climate change
|
Have you ever received
information about climate change?
|
Do you think climate
change is real?
|
Is Peru a party of the
Paris Agreement?
|
Does Peru have a climate
change law?
|
Do you know what is the
difference between adaptation and mitigation measures?
|
Does Peru have Adaptation
and mitigation measures?
|
Are you an involved actor
in the adaptation and mitigation measures?
|
|
Yes
|
78%
|
Yes
|
95.9%
|
Yes
|
58.5%
|
Yes
|
53.7%
|
Yes
|
67.5%
|
Yes
|
38.2%
|
Yes
|
39.8%
|
|
No
|
6.5%
|
No
|
1.6%
|
No
|
4.9%
|
No
|
15.4%
|
No
|
17.1%
|
No
|
14.6%
|
No
|
20.3%
|
|
IDK
|
15.4%
|
IDK
|
2.4%
|
IDK
|
36.6%
|
IDK
|
30.9%
|
IDK
|
15.4%
|
IDK
|
47.2%
|
IDK
|
39.8%
|
7.3.
Awareness-Perception related on Climate Risk
Global warming
naturally led to climate change world-wide. Above 90% of the participants have
perceived a temperature rise. Which is a clear indicator of environmental
change as (Fei et al.,
2023)
states that temperature have risen and its change reveal a 0.85°C increase from
1880 to 2012. On the other hand, a bit more than 30% have perceived a
precipitation drop or no change, meanwhile 67.5% of surveyed perceived a
precipitation rise which is not usual in Lima, location where participants live.
Furthermore, the three events participants mainly perceived are
landslides, flood, and sea level rise. Regarding to the most affected sectors
due to climate change in Peru, surveyed refers water resources and agriculture
with 45.5% and 40.7% respectively. Coincidentally, Arana-Ruedas & Moggiano (2022)
mentions that Peruvian priority sectors regarding adaptation measures are
linked to water resources and agriculture. Table 4 shows detailed frequencies
of participants awareness-perception of climate change. Last
question based on if people think their lives has been affected by climate
change, 64.2% of them refers to yes meanwhile 35.8% express that no.
8.
Critical appraisal
Peru, like many
other developing countries, has implemented climate change adaptation and
mitigation policies and aims to implement more plans to achieve better
environmental outcomes. Considering this trend, curiosity arises regarding
citizens' perceptions of these measures (Vignola et al.,
2013).
To
initiate action among individuals, solid know-ledge is necessary. Additionally,
as seen in Figure 1, other factors such as perception, motivation, attitude,
and behavior are crucial for success in garnering support and participation
from citizens in climate change policies (Alvi &
Khayyam, 2020).
In
response to this, there is a need to understand the actual landscape of
knowledge regarding these adaptation and mitigation measures. An online survey
was conducted among a considerable number of citizens in Lima, the capital city
that attracts people from various parts of Peru. The survey explored only two
main topics: knowledge and commitment. However, as an area for improvement,
further analysis of other psychosocial aspects related to the research is
warranted.
Thus, the study
focused on citizens' perception of climate change and the existing measures in
the country. Most respondents had heard about climate change topics. As shown
in Table 1, Peru has 84 adaptation measures spread across different areas such
as agriculture, water, health, among others. Similarly, there are 62 mitigation
measures focused on sectors like energy, industrial processes, agriculture,
among others.
However, there
exists a gap between the measures and the respondents' knowledge of them, as
depicted in Table 3. Even though most of the responders know about the climate
change, it is also important to know how people could respond against this
problem. Some scientists suggest that it is necessary to integrate assertive
and effective communication strategies between the government and citizens,
while also assessing psychosocial behaviors (Pietras, 2022). Given that
Peru is a developing country, many of its citizens have limited environmental
interest.
Table 4
Survey question
related to awareness-perception of climate change
|
What
kind of change have you perceived in the atmospheric temperature?
|
What
kind of change have you perceived in the precipitation patten?
|
|
Temperature rise
|
92.7%
|
Precipitation rises
|
67.5%
|
|
Temperature drop
|
4.1%
|
Precipitation drops
|
11.4%
|
|
No change
|
3.3%
|
No change
|
21.1%
|
|
Which of the following
events have you perceived?
|
Which sector do you think
is the most affected due to climate change in Peru?
|
|
Landslides
|
35.4%
|
Water resources
|
45.5%
|
|
Flood
|
24.1%
|
Agriculture
|
40.7%
|
|
Sea level rise
|
18.1%
|
Health
|
6.5%
|
|
Drought
|
13.1%
|
Fishing and Aquaculture
|
4.1%
|
|
Others
|
9.3%
|
Others
|
3.3%
|
The Peruvian government
contemplates laws and measures for climate change adaptation and mitigation,
aiming to extend its percentage targets for climate change adaptation to 2030.
As it is known, these adaptation and mitigation measures are directly related
to citizen participation.
This study emerged with the
idea that it is of vital importance to understand how much citizens know about
climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. The conducted survey showed
that nearly 80% of the respondents received informa-tion about climate change
at some point in their lives, with the following sources of information: social
media (40.7%), educational institutions (33.3%), and the Peruvian government
(9.8%). These latest data raise doubts about the reliability of the media in
providing accurate information, as many authors (10) suggest that messages
regarding climate change should come from reliable sources and trustworthy
individuals to add value to the information.
As mentioned earlier, Peru
has Law No. 30754 concerning climate change. However, according to the
conducted survey, 30% of the participants are unaware of the law. Additionally,
over 60% of the participants are not aware of the initiatives and actions
related to climate change mitigation measures by the Peruvian government. This
generates a lack of interest in active participation in these plans, reflected
in the responses of the surveyed individuals, with over 60% stating that they
do not feel involved in the adaptation and mitigation processes. Some authors
suggest that authorities should prioritize how they transmit messages or
information to citizens. To ensure effective climate communication, it is
necessary to pay attention to certain psychological variables of the citizens (Pietras, 2022).
Similarly, to many places around
the world, the respondents also reported experiencing irregular changes in
temperature, precipitation, and landslides.
Finally, it is advisable to
analyze the awareness programs implemented by the government to convey
information about climate change adaptation and mitigation measures. In a
country where social and economic issues limit environmental interest, there is
a lack of knowledge regarding crucial topics. Likewise, it is encouraged to
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