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Farmer views on climate change—a longitudinal study of threats, opportunities and action

Author

Listed:
  • Jaana Sorvali

    (Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke))

  • Janne Kaseva

    (Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke))

  • Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio

    (Natural Resources Institute Finland (Luke))

Abstract

Any new policy measure aiming to mitigate climate change and support adaptation in agriculture is implemented at the farm scale. This makes a farmer the key actor. This study aimed to understand farmers’ climate change views and reveal how farmers see their role, responsibilities and possibilities to mitigate and adapt to climate change. Furthermore, this study aimed to assess how various background variables and values associate with farmers’ views in order to have novel and comprehensive on farmers’ perspectives on climate change. Short-term changes in views were studied with a longitudinal framework. In total, 4401 farmers in Finland answered a standardized e-mail survey in spring 2018. A total of 2000 of them responded again in spring 2020. The respondents differed in gender, age, education, farming system, farm type, farm organization, farm size, revenue and region. The farmers were not a uniform group of citizens, and their views on climate change varied widely. For a Nordic, boreal zone country like Finland, climate change will bring not only challenges but also opportunities that may even strengthen the agricultural production. Such a “two-sided coin” causes confusion for farmers as indicated by this study. Climate change–induced risks often dominate the public dialogue with farmers. This study emphasizes the need for better balance between risks and opportunities not only in the dialogue with farmers but also with policy makers and all public discussion. Acknowledging farmers’ views in planning the future climate policies for agricultural sector is elemental to ensure success in farm-scale implementation.

Suggested Citation

  • Jaana Sorvali & Janne Kaseva & Pirjo Peltonen-Sainio, 2021. "Farmer views on climate change—a longitudinal study of threats, opportunities and action," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 164(3), pages 1-19, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:climat:v:164:y:2021:i:3:d:10.1007_s10584-021-03020-4
    DOI: 10.1007/s10584-021-03020-4
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Unay-Gailhard, İlkay & Lawson, Kati & Brennan, Mark A., 2023. "An examination of digital empathy: When farmers speak for the climate through TikTok," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 102, pages 1-1.
    2. Francesco Calciolari & Anastasija Novikova & Lucia Rocchi, 2021. "Climate Change and Lithuania’s Livestock Farms: Awareness and Reactions, an Explorative Study," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-13, September.
    3. Junqiao Ma & Wenfeng Zhou & Shili Guo & Xin Deng & Jiahao Song & Dingde Xu, 2022. "The influence of peer effects on farmers’ response to climate change: evidence from Sichuan Province, China," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 175(1), pages 1-23, November.
    4. Keshav Lall Maharjan & Clarisse Mendoza Gonzalvo & Wilson Jr. Florendo Aala, 2022. "Drivers of Environmental Conservation Agriculture in Sado Island, Niigata Prefecture, Japan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(16), pages 1-23, August.
    5. Milan Oplanić & Ana Čehić Marić & Smiljana Goreta Ban & Tajana Čop & Mario Njavro, 2022. "Horticultural Farmers’ Perceived Risk of Climate Change in Adriatic Croatia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.

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