Factors Associated with People perception of climate change in Nepal

Abstract

A better understanding of local people’s perception, attitude, and behavior about climate change will provide an important foundation for the government’s policy making, adaptation and mitigation strategies, and local people-based guidelines for sustainable development works. The objective of this study was to assess the perception and knowledge about climate change and its impacts on tourism and biodiversity. Data was taken from the national climate impact survey (NCCIS) 2016 with a sample size of 5060 based on 16 strata 3 from each development region and Kathmandu valley as separate strata. Descriptive analysis, as well as chi-square and logistic regression, are tested. The study revealed that more than half (55.3%) of the respondents are farmers, illiterate (43.5%), and low income i.e. less
than Rs50,000 per year (26.6%). Less than half (49.2%)had some knowledge about climate change but
(52.8%) did not. Among all the respondents (95.3%) perceived change in climate and the main cause
of climate change is deforestation (49.6%) followed by natural cause (14.0%). Age, sex, education level,
income, marital status, and occupation were  significantly associated with the knowledge about climate change(p<.001). The local people’s perception about temperature is more closed to observed trends but not clear about precipitation.