Perception on Climate Change of the Constituents in Coastal Communities in a Developing Country: Knowledge Survey

Climate change is one of the most prevalent environmental issues facing the world today. Having a better knowledge on climate change adaptation strategies or plans is already a one significant step that constituents could take to prepare for a disaster. Climate change is noticeable from the extreme and unexplainable climatic conditions in recent years among the constituents in coastal communities who are at the forefront of a disaster. It is imperative that each constituent should learn certain climate change adaptation strategy to better manage the potential impacts of a disaster. The study was conducted to investigate the constituents? perceived knowledge on climate change impacts in a coastal communities in the Philippines. A survey involving (n=566 respondents was conducted from September - October 2017 by using a climate change adaptation protocol. Most of the respondents are within the working age group, without job, having a basic education, below the poverty threshold, having a big family, and living in the area for more than 30 years. They also appeared to have known more than one climate change adaptation strategies. The study could help the local government to target its climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction and management efforts, and therefore help its constituents prepare for a climate change and disaster.