PUBLIC KNOWLEDGE AND PERCEPTION OF CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL WARMING IN THE CONTEXT OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHALLENGES AND POLICIES IN SAUDI ARABIA

The adverse impacts of climate change have been experienced across the world including the Dammam City in Saudi Arabia. While there are many efforts targeted to fight climate change, their success is dependent on the public having sufficient knowledge about the issue. Hence, the fight against climate change urgently requires an increase in public awareness for effective mitigation measures. Thus, this study seeks to identify level of knowledge and awareness of the people of Dammam about climate changes, causes and impacts on humanity. The study involved 310 respondents who are residents of Dammam and gave their responses by completing an online questionnaire. The findings revealed that 90% of the respondents were aware of the contemporary climate change problem and they had acquired that knowledge from conventional sources like social media and 67% were very worried about the impacts of climate change. The results also showed that 33% had no awareness knowledge at all about the causes of climate change and its impacts. The study concluded that slightly above quarter of the respondents have good knowledge, understanding, and awareness of climate changes. The study recommends more efforts to be directed toward expanding public knowledge on climate change.