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What Affects Chinese Residents’ Perceptions of Climate Change?

Author

Listed:
  • Jinjia Wu

    (Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China)

  • Jiansheng Qu

    (Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
    Lanzhou Information Center/Information Center for Global Change Studies, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730030, China)

  • Hengji Li

    (Lanzhou Information Center/Information Center for Global Change Studies, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730030, China)

  • Li Xu

    (Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China)

  • Hongfen Zhang

    (Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China)

  • Suman Aryal

    (Institute for Agriculture and the Environment, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia
    International Institute for Research, Education and Consultancy (iiREC), Toowoomba, QLD 4350, Australia)

  • Jingjing Zeng

    (Lanzhou Information Center/Information Center for Global Change Studies, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730030, China)

  • Yujie Fan

    (Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China)

  • Qin Wei

    (Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China)

  • Xiafei Liu

    (Key Laboratory of Western China’s Environmental Systems (Ministry of Education), College of Earth and Environmental Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China)

Abstract

The theme of global sustainable development has changed from environmental management to climate governance, and relevant policies on climate governance urgently need to be implemented by the public. The public understanding of climate change has become the prerequisite and basis for implementing various climate change policies. In order to explore the affected factors of climate change perception among Chinese residents, this study was conducted across 31 provinces and regions of China through field household surveys and interviews. Combined with the residents’ perception of climate change with the possible affected factors, the related factors affecting Chinese residents’ perception of climate change were explored. The results show that the perceptive level of climate change of Chinese residents is related to the education level and the household size of residents. Improving public awareness of climate change risk in the context of climate change through multiple channels will also help to improve residents’ awareness of climate change. On the premise of improving the level of national education, improving education on climate change in school education and raising awareness of climate change risk among dependents will help to improve the level of Chinese residents’ awareness of climate change, which could be instrumental in promoting public participation in climate change mitigation and adaptation actions.

Suggested Citation

  • Jinjia Wu & Jiansheng Qu & Hengji Li & Li Xu & Hongfen Zhang & Suman Aryal & Jingjing Zeng & Yujie Fan & Qin Wei & Xiafei Liu, 2018. "What Affects Chinese Residents’ Perceptions of Climate Change?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-14, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:10:y:2018:i:12:p:4712-:d:189560
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