The Role of Local Communication and Perception in Understanding Vulnerability to Climate Change

This study explores how local communication networks and community perceptions shape vulnerability to climate change for small island communities. Using a mixed-methods design with 146 face-to-face and digital surveys and five key informant interviews, four dimensions were evaluated: (1) awareness, concern, and self-rated knowledge of climate change; (2) awareness and direct experience to fourteen specific climate impacts; (3) information channels, including digital media, traditional outlets, and interpersonal networks; and (4) perceived causes, responsibilities, and adaptation strategies. Results show high overall awareness (94%) and concern (86%), but variable personal knowledge, wherein younger adults and women report greater understanding about climate change. Impacts like heatwaves and flooding, which were highly visible and immediate, exhibited strong awareness–experience correlations ( r  ≥ 0.43), as compared to the slow-onset hazards such as sea level rise and saltwater intrusion, which were less directly experienced despite high awareness. Digital platforms (social media, Internet news) and community-based channels (community meetings, local NGOs, word-of-mouth) each reach distinct demographic segments, with local storytelling and village assemblies proving effective at contextualizing gradual changes. Qualitative responses underscore the importance of integrating traditional ecological knowledge with scientific data to foster actionable understanding. Stakeholders agree that government leadership (88% support) must be bolstered by private sector innovation and NGO facilitation, while individuals emphasize grassroots education and enforcement of environmental laws. The findings demonstrate that leveraging trusted local channels to align messages with lived experience is critical for accurate risk perception and collective adaptation. This integrated communication-perception approach offers a scalable model for enhancing climate resilience in similarly vulnerable small-island communities.