Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes

Ahmed Hasson; Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18

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Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes

Ahmed Hasson, Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili

Published in American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 3, Issue 5)

Received: 5 October 2014 Accepted: 27 October 2014 Published: 30 October 2014

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Abstract

Baghdad is a large city, warmer than surrounding areas due to the urban heat island effect. This research is to understand what Iraqi society segments thought about issues represented a tangible threat to their urban environment and lifestyle. Questions were establish what scholars, student and Architect thought about the impact of climate change and UHI. Analysis indicated that there was a moderated acceptance in society segments, students, scholars and low among the urban residents of Iraqi society that complex issue such as Urban Heat Island as part of climate change was occurring and an even lower acceptance that it was the result of human activity. Nonetheless, the low acceptance reflected a high degree of uncertainty among urban people rather than widespread open skepticism. The uncertainty among urban residents could be attributable to scientific discrepancies about causes of Urban Heat Island and the possible consequences. The results show that trust in science and scientific credibility has been undermined by these discrepancies and the perception that scientists are using climate change to pursue their own agendas. With only 52% of educated survey respondents believing that climate change and Urban Heat Island information were easy to understand, there was a clear need to reconsider communication strategies for the dissemination of scientific information in universities and institutes. Results indicate that minimal adaptive responses of Iraqi society to changes in local climate, current and past extreme changes in Iraqi urban temperature, water scarcity and dust storm seasons support results that indicate society did not prioritize Urban Heat Island imperative. Generally, well-educated community did not recognize or underestimated the short to medium term risk Urban Heat Island represented for their urban environment or lifestyles.

Published in	American Journal of Environmental Protection (Volume 3, Issue 5)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18
Page(s)	258-262
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2014. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Ethics, Community, Uncertainty, Credibility, Climate Change, Urban Heat Island, Extreme Climate

References

[1]	United Nations, 2012Climate Change in Iraq Fact Sheet,..
[2]	Morgan, L Climate Change and Adaptation in South West Western Australia: Community, industry and gov ernment views on past and future climate change for WA: DAF, Bulletin 4706 2006.
[3]	Essen, S A 2008 Virtual laboratory of the Northern Agricultural Region, Special CAP project, Agricultural Research WA Climate Adaptation Program Prospectus, version 2. DAFWA.
[4]	Cram, J 2008 How our temperatures have changed. Bureau of Meteorology, Perth .Retrieved on 10 February from www.ioci.org.au.
[5]	Stedman, R. 2003"Is It Really Just a Social Construction?: The Contribution of the Physical Environment to Sense of Place." Society and Natural Resources 16, 671-685.
[6]	Vanclay, F 2009 Social principles for agricultural extension to assist in the promotion of natural resource manage ment.’ Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 44, 3, 213–222. Retrieved on 6 March from www.publish.csiro.au.dgbw.lis.curtin.edu.au(2004.
[7]	Wardell-Johnson, 2005 A Social relationships in landscape systems: identifying values and variables that drive social interactions. Systems Thinking and Complexity Science: Insights for Action: 11th Annual ANZSYS Associa tion of British Insurers.
[8]	Barnett, T.P. 1984 The estimation of sea level change: a problem of Uniqueness’, Journal of Geophysical Re search, 89: 7980-7988.
[9]	Hogg, M and Vaughan, G. 2005 Social Psychology , London, Prentice Hall, 4ed.

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APA Style

Ahmed Hasson, Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili. (2014). Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 3(5), 258-262. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18

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ACS Style

Ahmed Hasson; Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili. Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2014, 3(5), 258-262. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18

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AMA Style

Ahmed Hasson, Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili. Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes. Am J Environ Prot. 2014;3(5):258-262. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18

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@article{10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18,
  author = {Ahmed Hasson and Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili},
  title = {Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {258-262},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.20140305.18},
  abstract = {Baghdad is a large city, warmer than surrounding areas due to the urban heat island effect. This research is to understand what Iraqi society segments thought about issues represented a tangible threat to their urban environment and lifestyle. Questions were establish what scholars, student and Architect thought about the impact of climate change and UHI. Analysis indicated that there was a moderated acceptance in society segments, students, scholars and low among the urban residents of Iraqi society that complex issue such as Urban Heat Island as part of climate change was occurring and an even lower acceptance that it was the result of human activity. Nonetheless, the low acceptance reflected a high degree of uncertainty among urban people rather than widespread open skepticism. The uncertainty among urban residents could be attributable to scientific discrepancies about causes of Urban Heat Island and the possible consequences. The results show that trust in science and scientific credibility has been undermined by these discrepancies and the perception that scientists are using climate change to pursue their own agendas. With only 52% of educated survey respondents believing that climate change and Urban Heat Island information were easy to understand, there was a clear need to reconsider communication strategies for the dissemination of scientific information in universities and institutes. Results indicate that minimal adaptive responses of Iraqi society to changes in local climate, current and past extreme changes in Iraqi urban temperature, water scarcity and dust storm seasons support results that indicate society did not prioritize Urban Heat Island imperative. Generally, well-educated community did not recognize or underestimated the short to medium term risk Urban Heat Island represented for their urban environment or lifestyles.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes
AU  - Ahmed Hasson
AU  - Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili
Y1  - 2014/10/30
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18
T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
SP  - 258
EP  - 262
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5699
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18
AB  - Baghdad is a large city, warmer than surrounding areas due to the urban heat island effect. This research is to understand what Iraqi society segments thought about issues represented a tangible threat to their urban environment and lifestyle. Questions were establish what scholars, student and Architect thought about the impact of climate change and UHI. Analysis indicated that there was a moderated acceptance in society segments, students, scholars and low among the urban residents of Iraqi society that complex issue such as Urban Heat Island as part of climate change was occurring and an even lower acceptance that it was the result of human activity. Nonetheless, the low acceptance reflected a high degree of uncertainty among urban people rather than widespread open skepticism. The uncertainty among urban residents could be attributable to scientific discrepancies about causes of Urban Heat Island and the possible consequences. The results show that trust in science and scientific credibility has been undermined by these discrepancies and the perception that scientists are using climate change to pursue their own agendas. With only 52% of educated survey respondents believing that climate change and Urban Heat Island information were easy to understand, there was a clear need to reconsider communication strategies for the dissemination of scientific information in universities and institutes. Results indicate that minimal adaptive responses of Iraqi society to changes in local climate, current and past extreme changes in Iraqi urban temperature, water scarcity and dust storm seasons support results that indicate society did not prioritize Urban Heat Island imperative. Generally, well-educated community did not recognize or underestimated the short to medium term risk Urban Heat Island represented for their urban environment or lifestyles.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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Author Information

Ahmed Hasson

Mechanical Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Alnahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq
Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili

Architecture Engineering Department, College of Engineering, Alnahrain University, Baghdad, Iraq

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APA Style

Ahmed Hasson, Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili. (2014). Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes. American Journal of Environmental Protection, 3(5), 258-262. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18

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ACS Style

Ahmed Hasson; Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili. Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes. Am. J. Environ. Prot. 2014, 3(5), 258-262. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18

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AMA Style

Ahmed Hasson, Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili. Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes. Am J Environ Prot. 2014;3(5):258-262. doi: 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18,
  author = {Ahmed Hasson and Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili},
  title = {Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental Protection},
  volume = {3},
  number = {5},
  pages = {258-262},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajep.20140305.18},
  abstract = {Baghdad is a large city, warmer than surrounding areas due to the urban heat island effect. This research is to understand what Iraqi society segments thought about issues represented a tangible threat to their urban environment and lifestyle. Questions were establish what scholars, student and Architect thought about the impact of climate change and UHI. Analysis indicated that there was a moderated acceptance in society segments, students, scholars and low among the urban residents of Iraqi society that complex issue such as Urban Heat Island as part of climate change was occurring and an even lower acceptance that it was the result of human activity. Nonetheless, the low acceptance reflected a high degree of uncertainty among urban people rather than widespread open skepticism. The uncertainty among urban residents could be attributable to scientific discrepancies about causes of Urban Heat Island and the possible consequences. The results show that trust in science and scientific credibility has been undermined by these discrepancies and the perception that scientists are using climate change to pursue their own agendas. With only 52% of educated survey respondents believing that climate change and Urban Heat Island information were easy to understand, there was a clear need to reconsider communication strategies for the dissemination of scientific information in universities and institutes. Results indicate that minimal adaptive responses of Iraqi society to changes in local climate, current and past extreme changes in Iraqi urban temperature, water scarcity and dust storm seasons support results that indicate society did not prioritize Urban Heat Island imperative. Generally, well-educated community did not recognize or underestimated the short to medium term risk Urban Heat Island represented for their urban environment or lifestyles.},
 year = {2014}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Study of the Level of Awareness of the Iraqi Society to the Impact of Climate Changes
AU  - Ahmed Hasson
AU  - Saad KH. Mahmood Aljumaili
Y1  - 2014/10/30
PY  - 2014
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18
T2  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JF  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
JO  - American Journal of Environmental Protection
SP  - 258
EP  - 262
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2328-5699
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajep.20140305.18
AB  - Baghdad is a large city, warmer than surrounding areas due to the urban heat island effect. This research is to understand what Iraqi society segments thought about issues represented a tangible threat to their urban environment and lifestyle. Questions were establish what scholars, student and Architect thought about the impact of climate change and UHI. Analysis indicated that there was a moderated acceptance in society segments, students, scholars and low among the urban residents of Iraqi society that complex issue such as Urban Heat Island as part of climate change was occurring and an even lower acceptance that it was the result of human activity. Nonetheless, the low acceptance reflected a high degree of uncertainty among urban people rather than widespread open skepticism. The uncertainty among urban residents could be attributable to scientific discrepancies about causes of Urban Heat Island and the possible consequences. The results show that trust in science and scientific credibility has been undermined by these discrepancies and the perception that scientists are using climate change to pursue their own agendas. With only 52% of educated survey respondents believing that climate change and Urban Heat Island information were easy to understand, there was a clear need to reconsider communication strategies for the dissemination of scientific information in universities and institutes. Results indicate that minimal adaptive responses of Iraqi society to changes in local climate, current and past extreme changes in Iraqi urban temperature, water scarcity and dust storm seasons support results that indicate society did not prioritize Urban Heat Island imperative. Generally, well-educated community did not recognize or underestimated the short to medium term risk Urban Heat Island represented for their urban environment or lifestyles.
VL  - 3
IS  - 5
ER  -

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