Public Conceptions of Climate Change Impact as a Human Health Risk. A Case Study in Cameroon
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54536/ajec.v3i2.3035Keywords:
Climate Change, Public Concepts, Impact, Human Health, RiskAbstract
This research looks at the public’s perception of climate change’s impact as a human health risk in Cameroon. With the use of an extensive survey, the research investigates Cameroonian demographic data, levels of education, and views about the perception of climate change as a human health risk. The descriptive data reveal that master’s students are significantly represented among the participants, and men predominate. According to the findings, most students are aware of climate change and its serious future effects, which include rising poverty, disease outbreaks, and extreme temperatures. According to the study’s findings, tackling the complex issues raised by climate change requires an entire population that is both engaged and aware. Institutions of higher learning are essential to this effort since they emphasize how curriculum should incorporate climate education in order to empower many more generations to come. In order to improve public awareness and encourage significant steps toward sustainability as well as health protection in the context of climate change, the research emphasizes cooperation between legislators, learners, and the general public. These parties may build a society that is both ecologically conscientious and even more adaptable by cooperating. People can make decisions that help lessen the consequences of climate change by increasing their knowledge and consciousness. By adopting a comprehensive strategy, we can guarantee an environmentally friendly future for future generations in addition to the present one.
Downloads
References
Abubakar, I., Dalglish, S. L., Angell, B., Sanuade, O., Abimbola, S., Adamu, A. L., Adetifa, I. M. O., Colbourn, T., Ogunlesi, A. O., Onwujekwe, O., Owoaje, E. T., Okeke, I. N., Adeyemo, A., Aliyu, G., Aliyu, M. H., Aliyu, S. H., Ameh, E. A., Archibong, B., Ezeh, A., . . . Zanna, F. H. (2022). The Lancet Nigeria Commission: investing in health and the future of the nation. Lancet, 399(10330), 1155–1200. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(21)02488-0
Ajzen, I. (1991). The theory of planned behavior. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 50(2), 179–211. https://doi.org/10.1016/0749-5978(91)90020-t
Ajzen, I., & Driver, B. L. (1992). Application of the theory of planned behavior to leisure choice. Journal of Leisure Research, 24(3), 207–224. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.1992.11969889
Borrelli, P., Robinson, D. A., Panagos, P., Lugato, E., Yang, J. E., Alewell, C., Wuepper, D., Montanarella, L., & Ballabio, C. (2020). Land use and climate change impacts on global soil erosion by water (2015-2070). Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 117(36), 21994–22001. https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2001403117
Brauch, H. G. (2011). Concepts of security Threats, challenges, vulnerabilities and risks. In Hexagon series on human and environmental security and peace (pp. 61–106). https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-17776-7_2
Carter, J. G., Cavan, G., Connelly, A., Guy, S., Handley, J., & Kazmierczak, A. (2015). Climate change and the city: Building capacity for urban adaptation. Progress in Planning, 95, 1–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.progress.2013.08.001
Christou, A. (2006). Narratives of Place, Culture and Identity : Second-Generation Greek-Americans Return Home. https://doi.org/10.5117/9789053568781
Da Silva, S. (2020). Data set used in “Robust approach for inverse problems based on generalised statistics”, da Silva, et al. 2020 [Dataset]. In Figshare. https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.13280882
Demuzere, M., Orru, K., Heidrich, O., Olazabal, E., Geneletti, D., Orru, H., Bhave, A., Mittal, N., Feliu, E., & Faehnle, M. (2014). Mitigating and adapting to climate change: Multi-functional and multi-scale assessment of green urban infrastructure. Journal of Environmental Management, 146, 107–115. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jenvman.2014.07.025
Drummond, A., Hall, L. C., Sauer, J. D., & Palmer, M. A. (2018). Is public awareness and perceived threat of climate change associated with governmental mitigation targets? Climatic Change, 149(2), 159–171. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-018-2230-2
Dwivedi, Y. K., Hughes, L., Kar, A. K., Baabdullah, A. M., Grover, P., Abbas, R., Andreini, D., Abumoghli, I., Barlette, Y., Bunker, D., Kruse, L. C., Constantiou, I., Davison, R. M., De, R., Dubey, R., Fenby-Taylor, H., Gupta, B., He, W., Kodama, M., . . . Wade, M. (2022). Climate change and COP26: Are digital technologies and information management part of the problem or the solution? An editorial reflection and call to action. International Journal of Information Management, 63, 102456. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijinfomgt.2021.102456
Hayes, K., Blashki, G., Wiseman, J., Burke, S., & Reifels, L. (2018). Climate change and mental health: risks, impacts and priority actions. International Journal of Mental Health Systems, 12(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13033-018-0210-6
Hilger, K. J. E., Scheibe, S., Frenzel, A. C., & Keller, M. M. (2021). Exceptional circumstances: Changes in teachers’ work characteristics and well-being during COVID-19 lockdown. School Psychology, 36(6), 516–532. https://doi.org/10.1037/spq0000457
Iwelunmor, J., Blackstone, S., Veira, D., Nwaozuru, U., Airhihenbuwa, C., Munodawafa, D., Kalipeni, E., Jutal, A., Shelley, D., & Ogedegbe, G. (2015). Toward the sustainability of health interventions implemented in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review and conceptual framework. Implementation Science, 11(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13012-016-0392-8
Kerekes, S., Szerényi, Z. M., & Kocsis, T. (2018). Sustainability, environmental economics, welfare. https://doi.org/10.14267/cb.2018k05
Kerr, A., Tompkins, W., Kimmell, K., Markham, A., Rivera-Collazo, I., Yazzie, J., Heller, N., Tickell, A., Workshops, B. S., Newell, J., Seekamp, E., Catanzariti, A., Sutton, S., Mcghie, H., Bunch, L., Fisher, A., Marino, A., Miller, S., Tunick, E., . . . Naugle, B. (2021). Stemming the Tide: Global Strategies for Sustaining Cultural Heritage through Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.5479/si.14750727.v1
Kuruvilla, S., Mays, N., Pleasant, A., & Walt, G. (2006). Describing the impact of health research: a Research Impact Framework. BMC Health Services Research, 6(1). https://doi.org/10.1186/1472-6963-6-134
Lal, R. (2008). Promise and limitations of soils to minimize climate change. Journal of Soil and Water Conservation, 63(4), 113A-118A. https://doi.org/10.2489/jswc.63.4.113a
Leroy, J. L., Gadsden, P., & Guijarro, M. (2012). The impact of daycare programs on child health, nutrition and development in developing countries: a systematic review. https://doi.org/10.23846/sr1004
Loizeau, D., Quantin-Nataf, C., Carter, J., Flahaut, J., Thollot, P., Lozac’h, L., & Millot, C. (2018). Quantifying widespread aqueous surface weathering on Mars: The plateaus south of Coprates Chasma. Icarus, 302, 451–469. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2017.11.002
Macintyre, S., Ellaway, A., & Cummins, S. (2002). Place effects on health: how can we conceptualise, operationalise and measure them? Social Science & Medicine, 55(1), 125–139. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0277-9536(01)00214-3
McGranahan, N., & Swanton, C. (2015). Biological and therapeutic impact of intratumor heterogeneity in cancer evolution. Cancer Cell, 27(1), 15–26. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccell.2014.12.001
Meinshausen, M., Smith, S. J., Calvin, K., Daniel, J. S., Kainuma, M. L. T., Lamarque, J., Matsumoto, K., Montzka, S. A., Raper, S. C. B., Riahi, K., Thomson, A., Velders, G. J. M., & Van Vuuren, D. P. (2011a). The RCP greenhouse gas concentrations and their extensions from 1765 to 2300. Climatic Change, 109(1–2), 213–241. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0156-z
Meinshausen, M., Smith, S. J., Calvin, K., Daniel, J. S., Kainuma, M. L. T., Lamarque, J., Matsumoto, K., Montzka, S. A., Raper, S. C. B., Riahi, K., Thomson, A., Velders, G. J. M., & Van Vuuren, D. P. (2011b). The RCP greenhouse gas concentrations and their extensions from 1765 to 2300. Climatic Change, 109(1–2), 213–241. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0156-z
Mik, C. (2013). The Role of Regional State Integration Organizations in Combating Piracy in-between Africa and Asia. Polish Review of International and European Law, 2(1), 69–138. https://doi.org/10.21697/priel.2013.2.1.03
Nevitt, M. (2021). Is climate change a threat to international peace and security? Michigan Journal of International Law, 527. https://doi.org/10.36642/mjil.42.3.climate
Pidgeon, N. (2012). Public understanding of, and attitudes to, climate change: UK and international perspectives and policy. Climate Policy, 12(sup01), S85–S106. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2012.702982
Reser, J. P., & Swim, J. K. (2011). Adapting to and coping with the threat and impacts of climate change. American Psychologist, 66(4), 277–289. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0023412
Rumsfeld, J. S. (2002). Health status and clinical practice. Circulation, 106(1), 5–7. https://doi.org/10.1161/01.cir.0000020805.31531.48
Saito, M., Kato, T., & Tang, Y. (2009). Temperature controls ecosystem CO2 exchange of an alpine meadow on the northeastern Tibetan Plateau. Global Change Biology, 15(1), 221–228. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2486.2008.01713.x
Schwartz, S. E. O., Benoit, L., Clayton, S., Parnes, M. F., Swenson, L., & Lowe, S. R. (2022). Climate change anxiety and mental health: Environmental activism as buffer. Current Psychology, 42(20), 16708–16721. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12144-022-02735-6
Tumwine, J., Mash, B., Okonofua, F., Ntumba, J. K., Kigera, J., Malaudzi, M., Yonga, P., Rashidian, A., Adawy, M. E., Haileamlak, A., Yassien, M. S., Ofori‐Adjei, D., Snouber, A., Sidibe, S., Gbakima, A. A., Zakhama, L., Erhabor, G. E., Laybourn‐Langton, L., Muhia, J., . . . Atwoli, L. (2022a). COP27 Climate Change Conference: Urgent action needed for Africa and the world. International Nursing Review, 69(4), 417–419. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12809
Tumwine, J., Mash, B., Okonofua, F., Ntumba, J. K., Kigera, J., Malaudzi, M., Yonga, P., Rashidian, A., Adawy, M. E., Haileamlak, A., Yassien, M. S., Ofori‐Adjei, D., Snouber, A., Sidibe, S., Gbakima, A. A., Zakhama, L., Erhabor, G. E., Laybourn‐Langton, L., Muhia, J., . . . Atwoli, L. (2022b). COP27 Climate Change Conference: Urgent action needed for Africa and the world. International Nursing Review, 69(4), 417–419. https://doi.org/10.1111/inr.12809
Willox, A. C., Harper, S. L., Edge, V. L., Landman, K., Houle, K., & Ford, J. D. (2013). The land enriches the soul: On climatic and environmental change, affect, and emotional health and well-being in Rigolet, Nunatsiavut, Canada. Emotion, Space and Society, 6, 14–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emospa.2011.08.005
Winkler, M. S., Röösli, M., Ragettli, M. S., Cissé, G., Müller, P., Utzinger, J., & Perez, L. (2015). Mitigating and adapting to climate change: a call to public health professionals. International Journal of Public Health, 60(6), 631–632. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00038-015-0722-7
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Marcel Ndasack Ndifon, Engin Baysen

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.