Psychological distancing and floods risk perception relating to climate change in flood-prone Bait communities of Punjab, Pakistan

Floods frequency and intensity due to severe climate change have increased which generally raised global destruction of resources and livelihood severity particularly the population inhabited in flood-prone areas. Pakistan is among the most climate change affected countries having long history of floods incidence, faced major losses of lives and economic resources. Hence, it is crucial to be aware of flood risks and having climate change perception for developing adaptation strategies of climate change and feasible measures of flood risk reduction. Psychological distance and flood risk perception relating to climate change in flood-prone Bait areas of Punjab was investigated in this study. Awareness, worry and preparedness to flood were three major indicators to quantify perception of flood risk whereas uncertainty, temporal, social, geographical and psychological as five dimensions applied to measure psychological distance. This research work used the sample data of 398 flood-prone respondents and applied the Pearson’s correlation, ANOVA test and chi-square test for empirical estimation of the study. Empirical estimates illustrated as in general flood risk perception and psychological distance related to climate change in high flood risk areas were moderate whereas in worry and uncertainty negative association was estimated. Home ownership illustrated positive and significant affect on flood risk perception whereas negative influence on psychological distance to climate change in the estimates of regression analysis. Climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction philosophies can put together through facilitation of this study. Risk communications strategies need to develop to facilitate inhabitants to understand impacts of climate change, application of precautionary strategies and flood risks lessening measures.