A Climate for Change

Human Development Report - Croatia 2008 Public Perceptions/ Knowledge about Climate Change^25

Q.5: “What do you think are the consequences of
climate change? (Open answer)

The majority of respondents identified transport as a
key contributor to climate change, followed by con-
sumption of electricity in business and other sources

Figure 2-4: Responses to Survey Q. 4

Croatians believe they are very knowledgeable about Figure 2-5: Responses to Survey Q. 5
climate change. Everyone questioned had heard of
climate change before this survey. However, actual
knowledge levels are lower than self-assessed levels.
For people who claimed to know “a lot”, fewer than
half could name more than two correct causes of
climate change (47%) and less than half (45%) could
name more than two impacts of climate change.

Q. 4: “What types of things do you think contribute to
climate change?” (Open answer)

Identified causes of climate change

Business Electricity/Gas Consumption

Fossil Fuels

Natural Causes

Other CO 2

Aerosols/CFCs

Air Travel

Transport

Percentage of respondents

Electricity production

Household Electricity/Gas Consumption

Deforestation

Agriculture

59 %

37 %

30 %

24 %

16 %

12 %

11 %

8 %

3 %

3 %

2 %

0%10%20,%30%40%50%60%

Identified impacts of climate change

Higher Costs of Energy/Goods

Impacts on Agriculture/Food

Production

Sea-Level Rise/Floods

Impacts on Wildlife/

Ecosystems

More Pollution

Ozone Layer Depletion*

More Extreme Weather

More Skin Cancer*

Icecaps Melting

Changing Local Weather

Changing Global Climate 50 %

33 %

31 %

26 %

25 %

25 %

14 %

13 %

9 %

7 %

1 %

Percentage of respondents

*Not a recognised immediate impact of climate change

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60%

of CO 2. Very few named agriculture as a major con-

tributor. In Croatia, transport is responsible for approxi-

mately 20% of emissions, while electricity production is

responsible for another 13% and agriculture is respon-

sible for around 11% of all emissions (See Chapter 12).

More than a third of people who said they knew a lot

or a fair amount, named at least one impact that is not

recognised as being due to climate change (ozone layer

depletion, increased rates of skin cancer). The amount of

mistaken knowledge about climate change may be due

to a view among Croatians that climate change is some-

thing that “happens to others” or has abstract global ef-

fects, and a lack of awareness of the direct social and eco-

nomic consequences in Croatia (see Question 8).