Abstract
Climate change poses a significant threat to Malaysia, impacting public health, food security, and socioeconomic stability. Despite rising temperatures and a growing frequency of extreme weather events, public understanding and engagement with climate change mitigation and adaptation remain limited. This study addresses this gap by investigating Malaysian public perceptions, behaviours, and information sources related to climate change, to better understand how climate change information can be communicated more easily and effectively. A nationally representative survey was carried out in August 2022 with 1063 respondents. Audience segmentation was carried out utilizing the Six America Super Short Survey (SASSY!) Tool as has been used across diverse countries, and differences in the segments’ responses were analysed. The majority of Malaysians are Alarmed (45%) or Concerned (36%) about climate change. 81% of Malaysians believe climate change is occurring, however, only 40-56% understand key climate change terminology, highlighting a critical knowledge gap. 65-79% of Malaysians have already adopted common purchasing, energy and waste management behaviours to address climate change. Social media and chat apps dominate media preferences, while scientists, environmental groups, and academic publications are the most trusted information sources. This study provides valuable insights for policymakers and communicators seeking to bridge the gap between public perception and effective climate change action in Malaysia. By addressing the knowledge gap through targeted communication campaigns aligned with preferred media and trusted sources, Malaysia can mobilize its public in collective efforts to mitigate climate change.
Presenters
Azliyana AzhariResearch Fellow, Monash Climate Change Communication Research Hub Malaysia Node, Monash University, Selangor, Malaysia
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
Human Impacts and Responsibility
KEYWORDS
PUBLIC PERCEPTION, CLIMATE CHANGE, AUDIENCE SEGMENTATION
