Climate change risk perception as a catalyst for adaptive effect of ICT: The case in rural Eastern China

Abstract

Understanding the mechanisms by which technological advancements like ICT influence adaptive actions is crucial for smallholder farmers confronting climate change. This study analyzes data from rural areas in China’s Yangtze River Delta to examine how ICT affects farmers’ adaptive investments. The findings reveal that ICT does not directly increase adaptive investments among smallholders. Instead, it indirectly influences these investments by enhancing farmers’ perceptions of climate risks, thereby addressing debates over ICT’s effectiveness in promoting adaptive actions. By categorizing smallholder farmers’ climate change risk perceptions into sixteen distinct subtypes and measuring them, we provide a understanding how ICT elevates risk awareness. This work extends the model of private proactive adaptation to climate change (MPPACC) by demonstrating that technological advancements influence climate change risk perception, expanding its scope from social discourse to include objective adaptive capacity. Practically, these findings underscore the critical role of risk perception in devising effective adaptation policies. By considering risk perception as a key factor in ICT policy formulation, policymakers can effectively enhance smallholders’ adaptive actions.