Editor’s choice
Editor’s choice
This study compares two groups of Swedish forest owners, one of which participated in climate communications projects and one of which was randomly sampled, to explore the effect of this communication on their risk perceptions and the likelihood that they would take adaptive action.
Natural resource managers urgently need to adapt to climate change, and extension services are increasingly using targeted communication campaigns to promote individual engagement with adaptation.
This study compares two groups of Swedish forest owners: 1493 who participated in two climate communication projects by the Swedish Forest Agency, and 909 who were randomly sampled.
The study finds statistically significant differences between the two groups in terms of climate change awareness and concern, belief in the urgency to act and intentions to take adaptive measures. Results suggest that the primary effect of the climate chance communication seems to have been on forest owners’ subjective risk perceptions and beliefs in their knowledge and ability, which make it more likely that individuals will take adaptive action in the future.
The study also finds that experience with extreme events affects people’s intentions to take adaptive measures independently from their beliefs that these extremes were caused by climate change. Furthermore, findings also highlight the need for communication research and practice to recognize the impeding role social norms and economic rationales can play for individual adaptation.
Future research should make use of longitudinal and qualitative research to assess the effect of deliberation- and solution-orientated communication on people’s intentions and actions to adapt to climate change.
Team Leader: Cities, Communities and Consumption; Senior Research Fellow
SEI Headquarters
SEI report / How do adaptation policies and governance acknowledge and respond to the systemic nature of climate change?
Event on 05 June / A webinar about land claims, land use conflicts, the state of Sámi rights and rule of law in the Nordic countries.
Other publication / This brief helps local planners and stakeholders understand how NbS can enhance wellbeing through effective design, governance, and impact assessment.
