Climate Change from Perspectives of Urban Population: A Case Study for Bogotá

Abstract 

Background/Purpose: Urban areas or cities arise from the transformation of natural ecosystem into a built environment and today are particularly exposed and vulnerable to climate change (Weyrich, 2016). More than half of the world population currently lives in cities, which have increased urbanization process and the exposition to direct climate change impacts and consequences today and the future (Hunt and Watkiss, 2011). Moreover, fast urbanisation in developing countries has already increased the number of greatly vulnerable urban communities living in informal settlements, many of which are at high risk from extreme weather events (Staden, 2014).

 

Hundreds of millions of urban residents in developing countries are at risk from the direct and indirect impacts and effects of climate change that are classified the following manner (Bartlett et al., 2009): i. Changes in means ; ii. Changes in extremes; iii. Changes in exposure.

The goal of this research was to gather and analyse the perceptions of the urban population of Bogotá regarding climate change. The specific objectives of the study were to conduct an in-depth survey on climate change in Bogotá and determine the positions and beliefs, information habits, institutionalism and governance, and empowerment of science and technology related to climate change. 

Methods: Data and samples: An urban descriptive quota sample of the Bogota´s population aged 18 years and older was interviewed face-to-face in their own homes by Colombian Observatory of Science and Technology (OCyT) and Specialized Systems of Information (SEI) between 1 April and 15 May 2016. Interviews were conducted in different zones of Bogotá as capital city of Colombia and typical city of developing country with high vulnerability to climate change. To guarantee the representative of sample in the selection in the city was drawn with a probability proportional to population size (PPS).

Measures: The questionnaire was designed taking into account the requirements of the Antigua Manual regarding perception surveys from five dimensions as analysis categories: Socio-demographics characteristics, positions and beliefs regarding climate change, information habits, institutionalism and governance, and Empowerment of science and technology related to climate change.

 

Results: Within a Bogotá city, unexpected changes in temperature, droughts, increasing food prices, forest fires, and extreme hot or cold conditions are situations that have been associated with climate change in the last years indicating that perception is close related to environment and ecosystems predominant in the urban area. Moreover, when the survey was applied, Bogotá has experienced an intensive period of forest fires, which could have generated a higher concentration of answer related to this situation and direct relationship with climate change. These results indicate that the Bogota´s population considers that climate change is occurring and has affected their life.

 

Conclusions and implications: The findings of this study indicate that the urban citizens of Bogotá have generated different perceptions and understanding on climate change, for which it is important to design and apply new strategies to empower the urban population on the importance and actions for adaptation or mitigation of climate change.