Climate Change perception in different Italian macro-areas

In recent decades, Climate Change is causing the increasing of frequency and intensity of weather-related extreme events, exposing several populations to risk. Therefore, measures to mitigate the impacts resulting from this phenomenon are increasingly necessary.

To devise effective strategies, it is essential to consider that many losses are due to numerous factors, including economic and social ones. A crucial role is played by the behaviors adopted by people, and the extent to which people are willing to make changes to their lifestyles.

Therefore, mitigation measures to be truly effective should include important non-structural actions. This refers to strategies that work on social aspects of communities that influence their resilience. There are many elements that influence social resilience, and among them risk perception plays a crucial role. Risk perception, however, is linked to numerous other aspects such as propensity to prepare for the event with adaptation measures, awareness and knowledge, good communication and information, trust in institutions, cultural background, and even having experienced a previous disaster. Moreover, the literature  points out that these aspects are strongly influenced by gender and socio-economic differences related to the specific involved area. Therefore, understanding these differences is a key for the implementation of effective climate change adaptation strategies.

To achieve this, a nationwide survey on risk perception related to Climate Change was carried out to better understand the aspects listed above. Data were collected by administering interviews conducted between April 12 and 19, 2023 using CATI/CAMI/CAWI methodology to a representative sample of the Italian population and then weighted to be representative for the overall sample. The results refer to the adult population (1279 interviews) divided by gender and by Italian territorial macro-areas (NW, NE, Center, South, Islands).

The obtained results and the differences noted between genders and different Italian macro-areas provide a fundamental basis for better calibration of climate change adaptation measures aimed at increasing the resilience of Italian population.