By Ernesto Cooke
A Knowledge Attitudes and Practice Survey (KAP) on Climate Change commissioned by the United Nations Development Programme through the Japan-Caribbean Climate Change Partnership showed respondents limited understanding of what was causing climate change in St Vincent.
The study was conducted in 14 communities utilising a mix of quantitative and qualitative methodologies. A survey was undertaken in 10 communities across the island using stratified random sampling and a quota sampling scheme to identify some 550 households to be targeted.
The communities surveyed were Vermont, Cane Grove/ Pembroke, Buccament Bay, Colonaire, Langley Park, Sandy Bay, Marriaqua, Rose Bank/Dark View, Bequia and Union Island. Additionally, focus group discussions were held in 4 communities. These communities were Vermont, Sandy Bay, Bequia and Marriaqua.
Key findings from the survey include the following:
The majority of homes (64.4%) are either situated near a river, coastline, low-lying areas or on or near a steep incline. These are more vulnerable to climate-related hazards that the 35.5% of homes not situated near to a river-side, coastline, and low-lying area or on a steep incline. These homes are owned by the majority of occupants(68.2%), and the vast majority are constructed from zinc/metal roofing (96.5%) and concrete outer walls (76.2%).
Despite the overt threats of climate-related hazards, the majority of respondents (67.8%) do not have home insurance. Only 14.4% reported that their homes were insured while 17.8% did not know or were not sure. Of the 14.4% who had home insurance, 46% had insurance against hazards, while 35.4% had no risk insurance and 18.6% did not know or were not sure if they were insured against risks.
The majority of respondents are familiar with the term climate change. 93.8% of respondents have heard the term climate change before. Only 6.2% of respondents reported that they have never heard the term climate change before.
The majority of respondents (69.3%) define climate change as changes in weather pattern or weather conditions. Other definitions included changes in temperature, changes in the environment, and global warming.
It is clear that they understand that climate change brings about changes in weather, temperature, etc. However, they were not able to demonstrate a comprehensive understanding of the meaning of climate change. 25.3% indicated that they did not know the meaning.
The majority of respondents are aware of several of the major changes associated with climate change; changing weather patterns (89.8%), flooding (85.6%), landslides (81.0%), sea level rise (73.8%) and erosion along the coast (70.9%).
When compared to the top 5 changes noted, a significantly lower percentage of respondents identified other changes such as differences in seasonality of crops, increase in insect pest and decrease in fish stock.
Respondents demonstrated a limited understanding of what was causing climate change. It is clear that some respondents understand those issues at the community level that are contributing towards greenhouse gas emission. However, there appears to be a lack of comprehensive understanding of the major contributing factors at the global and national level.
The answer that was most popular, although only selected by a little more than half of the respondents, was deforestation (cutting down trees and mangroves). This was followed by improper garbage disposal (44.5%) and burning of fossil fuels such as coals, oils and natural gases (43.8%). Interestingly, only 9.5% of respondents selected electricity generation as a contributing factor to climate change while only 35.5% selected poor industrial practices. 18.4% still believe that it is an act of the creator.
Respondents are aware that climate change is affecting Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The majority of those surveyed (79.1%) indicated that climate change is affecting their communities. Changing weather patterns, flooding and landslides were the top three changes that have been affecting communities over the past ten years.
These are consistent with the top three changes participants associated with climate change. This demonstrates that they can associate the more prominent changes in their communities to climate change.
However, significantly fewer respondents indicated that their communities had been affected by erosion along the coast (62.2%), seal level rise (63.3%), stronger and more frequent storms (58.5%), and increase in air temperature (57.5%).
It is encouraging to note that the majority of respondents expressed concern about climate change. 88.8% of respondents were either very concerned or somewhat concerned about climate change.
Only 2.9% of respondents indicated that they were not concerned about climate change while 8.4% indicated that they weren’t sure or did not know how they felt about climate change.
An interesting finding is that two of the top three recommended actions that can help communities to prevent or lessen the impact of climate change focused on community education and awareness and community participation. 89.9% of respondents felt that it was very important or somewhat important to increase public awareness on climate change issues. 85.8% felt that it was very important or somewhat important to encourage and promote community participation and 85.6% felt that it was very important or somewhat important to increase reforestation.
There were mixed opinions on whether actions were being taken by community leaders, central government and community members at the community level to prevent or lessen the impact of climate change. Overall, the percentage of persons who feel that any of the actors above are taking action was significantly low.
This could signal a lack of awareness and low visibility of actions that are being taken or that specific actions are not being taken at the community level. It is encouraging to note that the majority of respondents, 78.7%, indicated that they are prepared to do whatever it takes to help to preserve their environment in responding to climate change. Equally encouraging is that 61.6% of respondents disagree or strongly disagree that there is nothing a small country like Saint Vincent can do about climate change.
