Climate Change Consciousness: An Exploratory Study on Farmers’ Climate Change Beliefs and Adaptation Measures

Abstract

Individual responsibility and the development of “green virtues” are a rich field of exploration within the topic of climate change. However, despite the growing number of research dedicated to climate change, there is room for a better understanding of what climate change consciousness is. In this regard, the paper attempts to define climate change consciousness. There is a need to integrate climate change-related concerns into consciousness to understand this concept, which involves a radical transformation. For this, Romanian farmers’ level of climate change consciousness was assessed considering three layers: affective, cognitive, and conative. The “Introduction of new crops (not GMOs)” was the climate change adaptation measure adopted by most farmers. The variables that predicted the implementation of climate change adaptation measures were identified using regression analyses. The good prediction power of the moral values associated with different adaptation actions is an evidence of Romanian farmers’ climate change consciousness.

Keywords:

• behavior
• climate change
• knowledge
• perception
• values

Acknowledgement

Part of this study was developed in relation to the research projects: (1) “High nature value farmland disappearance determinants – climate changes, land grabbing, and rural exodus: from investigating stakeholders’ perceptions on land services to developing win-win community-based solutions” and (2) “Inclusive economic and climate resilience through the promotion of landraces with good production capacity and ecological adaptability: developing policy recommendations.” The projects received support through the fellowship “Advanced Fellowships – Internal; Excellency in the Activity of Research-Development-Innovation” granted by STAR UBB, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania, and they are developed within ISUMADECIP, Babes-Bolyai University, Romania.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).