Citizen Participation Offers Lessons to Climate Change Management

Abstract

The paper presents some lessons learned from the view and experience of the local population on climate change impacts. A survey among the rural population in Serbia measured their awareness, impact of climate change, and actions applied against it. The results indicated that respondents recognize the role of human activities in climate change; TV and the internet are primary information sources; the distinction between adaptation and mitigation is unclear; whereas droughts, floods, and hail are the most frequent manifestations of climate change in rural Serbia. In conclusion, further awareness of climate change details should be channeled through TV and the internet as the most popular sources of information, especially regarding the unclear difference between adaptation and mitigation. Future financial measures should address repairmen of the damages caused by the most common issues.