Relationships among environmental attitudes, risk perceptions, and coping behavior: A case study of four environmentally sensitive townships in Yunlin County, Taiwan

Climate change issues have attracted much attention in recent years. To date, the related research has focused mostly on the national and regional impacts of climate change. Taiwan, an island state, has a relatively high vulnerability to the consequences of climate change, and its western coastal areas are particularly vulnerable. Yunlin County, with 13 townships that are all prone to flooding, will be highly affected by climate change. In this study, the 13 townships are grouped into four categories of synthesized vulnerability and ecological footprint (EF): “low synthesized vulnerability/low EF” (Linnei), “high synthesized vulnerability/low EF” (Sihu), “low synthesized vulnerability/high EF” (Mailiao), and “high synthesized vulnerability/high EF” (Huwei).

Based on a review of the literature, this study proposes a conceptual framework of causal relationships among attitudes to and knowledge of climate change, disaster risk perceptions, and mitigation/adaptation behavioural intentions. It also investigates the effects of attitudes to and knowledge of climate change and disaster risk perceptions on mitigation and adaptation behavioural intentions and their relationships with place attachment. The author argues people’s perception of the risks associated with climate change should be continuously improved and whether doing so can effectively encourage climate change-related mitigation and adaptation behaviour should be examined. Understanding people’s perceptions of climate change-related risk and assessing whether they meet people’s needs by being constantly revised is important in order to support local mitigation and adaptation strategies.