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The BBC World Service Trust is the BBC's international charity. It uses the creative power of media to reduce poverty and promote human rights.
The British Council is the UK's international organisation for cultural relations and educational opportunities. As well as education, it runs programmes in the arts, science, sport, governance and English language.
Senegal Talks Climate
What do people think about climate change in Senegal? Can communication and media strategies be tailored to support Senegal's response to climate change?
In May 2009, the BBC World Service Trust conducted research in Senegal to gauge public understanding of climate change.
The research consisted of 12 focus group discussions with Senegalese citizens, as well as 17 in-depth interviews with opinion leaders from government, religious institutions, the private sector, the media and civil society.
Findings included:
Drought and scarcity of fish are causing frustration and despair. Farmers and fishermen do not have a sense of how they would cope if the problems became worse. Senegalese are also worried about bush fires, deforestation, flooding, rubbish and air pollution. opinion leaders are particularly concerned for rural communities.
Although opinion leaders recognise that climate change is a global problem, only a few recognise that industrialised countries are most responsible for causing it.
Opinion leaders tend to feel that climate change is an expert topic about which they know very little. while they can identify its effects, very few feel they have sufficient knowledge to explain the concept.
Climate change terminology is poorly understood and does not have standard translations in Wolof and Jola. Appropriate words are thus not accessible to most Senegalese, which prevents people from discussing the issues. Opinion leaders agree that climate change terminology is a barrier that prevents public engagement.
The media and schools are people’s main source of information on climate change. Yet the media appear to lack sufficient knowledge to inform audiences effectively.
Senegalese draw on existing knowledge and beliefs to explain the effects of climate change. For example, many think that deforestation in their local area reduces local rainfall, and some incorrectly believe that smoke from cars and factories damages the ozone layer, making it hotter. Some see changes in the weather as the will of God; this view is particularly prevalent among women and rural populations.
Most opinion leaders agree on the need to raise awareness of climate change. Yet there is a tendency to focus on addressing the causes of climate change rather than adapting to its impacts. A few emphasise the need to prioritise the provision of information that will enable the most vulnerable people to adapt.
Many people criticise government at all levels for a lack of visible action on climate change and the environment. The government representatives interviewed say that more needs to be done to tackle the impacts of climate change on Senegal’s coasts and rural water supplies, to regulate carbon dioxide emissions and to reduce bush fires and deforestation. They suggest that the major challenge is a lack of financial resources – but that in order to overcome this, effective co-ordination between government institutions and international involvement will be essential.