Original title: Exploring knowledge and attitudes towards climate change among a study sample from Khartoum State, Sudan
Authors: Alhuseen, Ahmed ; Kozová, M. ; Ismaeel, I. ; Cudlín, Pavel
Document type: Papers
Conference/Event: Quo vaditis agriculture, forestry and society under Global Change?, Velké Karlovice (CZ), 20171002
Year: 2017
Language: eng
Abstract: In spite of an adaptation plan endorsed by the city’s authorities, Khartoum State, the capital of Sudan, has repetitively\nexperienced a series of ravaging climate variability impacts. As in similar cases elsewhere, there are\nindications of financial and institutional incapacities and shortfalls to run the adaptation process, as well as\nlack of public knowledge about climate change. It has been argued that having well-informed communities in\nsome developing countries has reduced vulnerability and exposure to climate-origin disasters. Aiming to provide\nquantitative insight into the community’s knowledge and attitudes about climate change, this study presents\nthe results of a survey carried out in 2014 in a simple random sample of Khartoum State residents encompassing\n395 households. Data analysis showed that >75% of the respondents were aware of both the term “climate\nchange” and its main causes. Due to certain cultural and religious factors, however, familiarity with its\nassociated risks was less (25–75%). Moreover, knowledge regarding the ongoing government efforts, leading\ninstitutions, participating non-government organizations, and beliefs about the capability of Khartoum State\nauthorities to adapt the city to the foreseen impacts was found to be low (<25%). Of the respondents, 49% believed\nthat both human activities and God are responsible for causing climate change. Seventy-nine per cent\nof the respondents were interested in acquiring information about climate change, but only 55.3% frequently\nobtain it. Although 79% of the respondents would agree or strongly agree to pay in order to mitigate climate\nchange, 50.4% believed that nothing had been done by local government to mitigate that change. The study\nprovides unprecedented insight into knowledge and attitudes towards climate change among Khartoum State\nhouseholds. The results can be used by city authorities and government politicians to support ongoing adaptive\nprocedures and decision-making while narrowing the knowledge gap concerning climate change risks.
Keywords: Sudan; towards climate change
Project no.: LO1415 (CEP)
Funding provider: GA MŠk
Host item entry: Quo vaditis agriculture, forestry and society under global change? Conference proceeding, ISBN 978-80-87902-22-6

Institution: Global Change Research Institute AS ČR (web)
Document availability information: Fulltext is available at the institute of the Academy of Sciences.
Original record: http://hdl.handle.net/11104/0280332

Permalink: http://www.nusl.cz/ntk/nusl-371538


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