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The relationship between risk experience and risk response: a study of farmers and climate change

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  • Alice Hamilton-Webb
  • Louise Manning
  • Rhiannon Naylor
  • John Conway

Abstract

Within the existing literature, the role of experience of risk on attitudinal and behavioural risk response has been relatively neglected. Recent research that draws on the psychological distance of climate change as a concept notes the importance of local, significant experience as a driver for encouraging appropriate response. The experience of flooding was used as the stimulus in this paper, and emphasis placed on whether direct and/or indirect experience of flood risk is associated with different responses to climate change risk. In order to explore the relationship between climate change risk experience and response in the form of on-farm mitigation and adaptation, this paper draws on a case study of farmers in England, many of whom have experienced flooding. Results from a quantitative survey undertaken with 200 farmers in Gloucestershire, England are discussed. Statistical analysis found experience of flooding to be significantly associated with a heightened concern for climate change. Although also finding an association between experience and behavioural response, the sample were most likely to be taking adaptive behaviour as part of normal practice, with factors such as lack of overall concern for climate change risk and absence of information and advice likely to be the main barriers to action. Risk communication needs to further emphasise the connection between climate change and extreme weather events to allow for farmers to perceive climate change as a relevant and locally salient phenomenon, and subsequent tailored information and advice should be offered to clearly illustrate the best means of on-farm response. Where possible, emphasis must be placed on actions that also enable adaptation to other, more immediate risks which farmers in this study more readily exhibited concern for, such as market volatility.

Suggested Citation

  • Alice Hamilton-Webb & Louise Manning & Rhiannon Naylor & John Conway, 2017. "The relationship between risk experience and risk response: a study of farmers and climate change," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(11), pages 1379-1393, November.
  • Handle: RePEc:taf:jriskr:v:20:y:2017:i:11:p:1379-1393
    DOI: 10.1080/13669877.2016.1153506
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    Cited by:

    1. Gökçe Koç & Ayşe Uzmay, 2022. "Determinants of dairy farmers’ likelihood of climate change adaptation in the Thrace Region of Turkey," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(8), pages 9907-9928, August.
    2. Charles A. Ogunbode & Rouven Doran & Gisela Böhm, 2020. "Individual and local flooding experiences are differentially associated with subjective attribution and climate change concern," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 2243-2255, October.
    3. Lucie Adenaeuer & James Breen & Anne Hayden, 2020. "Insights in overcoming the non-adoption of voluntary agricultural ghg mitigation measures in Ireland," Economia agro-alimentare, FrancoAngeli Editore, vol. 22(3), pages 1-26.
    4. Paul M. Lohmann & Andreas Kontoleon, 2023. "Do Flood and Heatwave Experiences Shape Climate Opinion? Causal Evidence from Flooding and Heatwaves in England and Wales," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 86(1), pages 263-304, October.

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