South Africans Have Poor Understanding of Climate Change, Survey Shows

Almost a third (28%) of South Africans have not heard about global warming or climate change while over a half considered their knowledge as “hardly anything” or less.

The Human Sciences Research Council, a South African parastatal, conducts human sciences research in support of the growth and development of the country. Their 2008 South African Social Attitudes Survey (SASAS) collected information from a representative sample of over three thousand people. One of the modules of the survey explored issues such as knowledge and concern about climate change, perceived causes and impacts, where responsibility for action lies, and the level of support for interventions.

The results show that South Africans are poorly informed about climate change and its implications. They lack a full understanding of the impacts it is likely to have on their lives over the next few decades. This hints at difficulties that will be encountered as South Africa addresses climate change.

Respondents identified food security (15%), temperature (13%), disease (13%) and the standard of living (11%) as issues that would be effected by climate change. Issues with less direct impact on the individual, such as storms, floods, and loss of biodiversity, were not identified as frequently.

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Of those able to offer an opinion, 71% stated that climate change is a ‘very serious’ or ‘somewhat serious’ problem. This is in line with the GlobeScan Poll of 2006 which indicated the concerned section of the population had risen from 62% in 2003 to 72% in 2006. The worrying point though is that South Africa’s level is low compared to a range of other countries. This could be a barrier to the changes necessary for South Africa to improve its situation.

Other issues that could effect South Africa’s response would be the population’s perception of who should lead actions and its preparedness to contribute to these actions at the individual level. The survey found that 52% of the respondents felt that immediate action was required even if it would cost money and 48% felt that it was governments responsibility to initiate actions although business and individuals also had a role to play.

So although efforts to improve the understanding of climate change and it implications are urgently needed, the indications are that the people of South Africa will support the changes that are going to be necessary.

Source: Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC)

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