Climate change: Perceptions, Knowledge, and Needs of Local Decision Makers in Coastal North Carolina

Prepared for the Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions by ENV 280: Social Science Surveys for Environmental Management, Duke University.

Author(s): Kelly Blandford, Rebecca Gruby, Roberto Pott, Michelle Talal, and Cristina Villanueva

Published: April 2009

download: report (.pdf) >
executive summary (.pdf) >

The Nicholas Institute for Environmental Policy Solutions at Duke University (Nicholas Institute) is facilitating a collaborative Climate Ready Estuaries pilot program for the Albemarle-Pamlico National Estuary Program. One goal of the pilot program is to educate local decision makers in communities surrounding the Albemarle and Pamlico estuaries about the opportunities and challenges inherent in preparing their communities for the potential impacts of climate change. In the study reported here, graduate students at the Nicholas School of the Environment at Duke University administered a 17-question web-based pilot survey to address the Nicholas Institute’s need for baseline information about local public officials’ knowledge, beliefs, perceptions, and motivations regarding a) the impacts of climate change on their community, and b) activities they are currently undertaking or may undertake to increase resilience and mitigate the effects of climate change in their community. The results of this study provide a starting point for the Nicholas Institute to develop an education program for local officials that is appropriately matched to their needs.

The survey was e-mailed to 160 local decision makers in coastal cities and counties in North Carolina. Participants were chosen for the survey from coastal counties and cities in North Carolina using a non-random, non-probability sampling method, though attempts were made to gain representation from all coastal counties in North Carolina. Fifty-nine surveys were completed by respondents in fifteen counties and nine cities.

Seventy-three percent of surveyed local officials believe climate change is occurring. Only 38% claim to know what the potential impacts of climate change are in their communities. The highest percentage of respondents identified sea-level rise (70%), shore erosion (50%) and increase in storm surge (48%) as expected effects in their communities due to climate change. The highest percentage of respondents also expressed the belief that climate change will affect their communities’ tourism, future generations, and economy. Sixty-three percent of respondents mentioned that their local government does not consider climate change when making decisions, even though the majority (approximately 60%) believe that there is something their local government can do to prepare their community against climate change impacts. One-third of surveyed local officials perceive that they do not have enough political support from their constituents to prepare their community for climate change; however, almost half of the respondents indicated that preparing the community for the potential impacts of climate change is at least somewhat important to their constituents.

Our results have several implications for the work of the Nicholas Institute. Although many decision makers think they do not know the impacts of climate change, many of them do have at least some knowledge of the most important impacts of climate change in their community. This suggests that educational efforts could be focused on affirming and building upon a base of existing knowledge. In terms of capacity and resources, our study found that the factors that greatly affect local officials in preparing for climate change are a lack of funding and a lack of scientific information.  In turn, outreach programs could focus on guiding local decision makers to financial resources and reliable data sources. Respondents also identified activities that have not yet been undertaken but could be helpful in preparing their communities for the effects of climate change (e.g., educating community members, considering climate change when developing land-use plans, and updating water supply models). These could be suitable activities to help local governments begin to address. Finally, the study found that local decision makers are unsure of the appropriate timeframes within which to address the potential climate change impacts. Consequently, an important component of an education program could be to inform local governments of when various impacts are expected to occur, and when local government should initiate action to prepare for these impacts.