Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
ABSTRACT
Climate change has emerged as one of the most devastating environmen-
tal threats. It has become increasingly essential to assess the awareness
regarding climate change in the general population for framing the mitiga-
tion activities. Keeping this in view, an online survey was conducted to
know responses of educators, researchers, and students on their aware-
ness level, probable actions, and suggestions in matters related to climate
change. The awareness level was quite important for policy planning at
their level, which could have impact on the later generations. The sur-
vey was conducted through Google Drive online analysis and survey tool
consisting of both open-ended and closed-ended questions. Subjects had
poor appreciation of facts such as effect of climate change on farmers but
established a consistency on the responses that individuals at their own
level can mostly mitigate climate change.
18.1 INTRODUCTION
Climate change has emerged as one of the most important issues in global
discussion forums in the present times. Global climate change impacts
on human and natural systems are since long predicted to be severe. As
evidence of climate change and its impact continues to be gathered, it has
become quite clear that many of the causes of climate change are anthro-
pogenic in nature through lifestyles, consumption and choices that pollute
and exploit resources in an unsustainable manner. It is also predicted that
climate change will have detrimental effects upon agriculture, fisheries,
wildlife and may even result in collapsing ecosystems.
Increasing evidence have been provided from national public opinion
surveys throughout the world that seriousness and immediacy of climate
change have deteriorated during the years (Jowit, 2010; Kaufman, 2010;
McCright and Dunlap, 2011; Pew Center for People and the Press, 2008,
2009; Saad, 2009; Satzman et al., 2010; Weber and Stern, 2011;). The
probable causes attributed to this trend may be the lack of a mega cam-
paign to promote “climate change issues” by the political parties (Hoggan,
2009; McCright and Dunlap, 2011), media publicity which plays a crucial
role in generating interests and public opinion, published researches of
scientists in popular newspapers and journals among the few.
