Climate Change and Beliefs in Cameroon: A Qualitative Study Among Farmers in the Equatorial and Sudano-Sahelian Zones

Sandrine Gaymard, Nicole Kay, Jean-Claude Etoundi

Abstract


The question of climate change is a topical issue as is shown by the numerous publications on the subject during the last few years. However few publications lay emphasis on populations considered to be particularly exposed to the problem of climate change (by location or by activity) and on the impact of religion on these beliefs. In this study, two groups of Cameroon farmers working in two distinctive zones: Equatorial and Sudano-Sahelian were interviewed about their social representation of climate change. Results with the free association method highlight two preoccupying social representations. The question of distance from the object is discussed in relation to studies carried out among wider publics. In addition, this study shows that religion can also play an important part in the construction of knowledge of climate change. 


Keywords


Climate change; Risks; Social representations; Religion; Free associations; Cameroon farmers

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References


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