CLIMATE CHANGE ATTITUDES IN SOUTH AFRICA

EVIDENCE FROM WARD 6 NOODSBURG, ILEMBE DISTRICT MUNICIPALITY

Abstract

Climate change is becoming a growing concern globally, and developing countries are feeling the burden of its impacts. To respond to this successfully and for South Africa to navigate these changes, it will require a nuanced understanding of public opinion and understanding, for policy processes to take into account of individual concerns, and the lived realities of its citizens. The objective of the study is to examine the attitudes of residents in Noodsburg toward climate change. The study employed a qualitative research design. Key findings emanating from this study suggest that there is a gap between ‘awareness’ and ‘knowledge’ on climate change and that community members in Noodsburg rely on local ecological knowledge to provide information on the changing climate. These findings highlight the necessity for harnessing local knowledge to enhance community resilience and promote ecosystembased adaptation strategies in the face of a changing climate.