Risk Perceptions and Adaptation to Climate Change and Sea-Level Rise: Insights from General Public Opinion Survey in Florida

Abstract

The Everglades is a unique ecosystem in Florida that offers a variety of ecosystem services (ES), including water supply and flood risk reduction, water purification, habitats for several endemic species, and recreational opportunities. Therefore, the ramifications of climate change, an imminent threat to the Everglades ecosystem, are going to affect these ecosystem services drastically. The climate-induced changes to the ecosystem services are going to affect people’s lives and livelihoods in the region. Thus, understanding public perception and preferences is an important step in addressing the impending risk. In this study, we used an online survey to assess residents’ perceptions about the risk of climate change and their views on mitigating potential consequences. We find that people’s perceptions and preferences are shaped by their level of education, age, participation in outdoor recreational activities, and elevation and distance from the shoreline of their residential location from the mean sea-level. In general, people who are concerned about the flooding risk and people who tend to prioritize environmental conservation are more likely to agree with the potential impacts of climate change and sea-level rise and more likely to support proposed measures for adaptation. We discuss the policy implications for developing socially acceptable plans based on the findings regarding people’s perception and preferences for adaptation in this region.