Risks to Critical Environmental Resources and Public Wellbeing from Climate Change in the Eyes of Public Opinion in Kuwait

摘要

Climate change and its impacts have become an increasingly imperative topic of discussion in recent years. The perception of climate change as an environmental problem and public health hazard can significantly affect public behavior in terms of acceptance of the government's actions for mitigation and progress of various forms of adaptation strategies. The study reported herein would be the first of its kind in the Arabian Gulf region that seeks to examine people's opinions on a host of environmental issues in relation to human activities and potential solutions to these issues. The findings from this public survey indicate that about 80% of respondents believe human actions have already caused global environmental changes and the current path to economic development may not be sustainable. Respondents showed great concerns for future generations' well-being if environmental deterioration continues unabated. While this study is an important first step, only a few aspects of the impacts of climate change are included in the survey. There is a need for future studies to provide more information to quantify perceptions of climate risks to society, analyze the benefits of climate action, and enhance adaptive capacity.