Public Perception of Drought and Extreme Rainfall Impacts in a Changing Climate: Aconcagua Valley and Chañaral, Chile

Paulina Aldunce (), Fernanda Haverbeck, Rodolfo Sapiains, Antonio Quilaqueo and Carmen Paz Castro
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Paulina Aldunce: Department of Environmental Science and Natural Resources, University of Chile, Avenida Santa Rosa 11.315, La Pintana, Santiago 8820808, Chile
Fernanda Haverbeck: Department of Environmental Science and Natural Resources, University of Chile, Avenida Santa Rosa 11.315, La Pintana, Santiago 8820808, Chile
Rodolfo Sapiains: Center for Climate and Resilience Research, CR2, Blanco Encalada 2002, Santiago 8370449, Chile
Antonio Quilaqueo: Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Chile, Domeyko 2338, Santiago 8370438, Chile
Carmen Paz Castro: Disaster Risk Reduction Program, University of Chile, Diagonal Paraguay 265, Santiago 8820808, Chile

Sustainability, 2024, vol. 16, issue 18, 1-20

Abstract: Droughts and extreme rainfall events are two of the hazards that affect many people in the world and are frequent and complex hazards, the rate of occurrence and magnitude of which are expected to increase in a changing climate. In this context, understanding how different actors perceive changes in climate, drought, and extreme rainfall events and their impacts is relevant in contributing to successfully implementing adaptation strategies to reduce their impacts. This research seeks to explore the main changes the climate has undergone and the impacts of drought and precipitation events, as perceived at local levels by different stakeholders. A multi-method approach was applied, including qualitative methods such as observation, 51 semi-structured interviews, and document reviews in Chañaral and the Aconcagua Valley, Chile. This research shows what the perceived changes in climate are and that drought and extreme rainfall events have affected the well-being of the local people by severely impacting the economy, the environment, social interactions, quality of life, and human health. Additionally, the perception of climate change and its impacts vary depending on the type of hazard and the social, geographical, and environmental contexts in which communities live. This study is useful as it has generated knowledge relevant to inform policy decisions, practice, and theory.

Keywords: public perception; climate change; impacts; response; drought; extreme rainfall; Aconcagua Valley and Chañaral; Chile (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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