The known unknowns of climate change: adaptation in the Southern Agricultural Region of Western Australia

Each stakeholder in the Southern Agricultural Region, including farmers, local government officers and members of the community, understands the issues of climate change differently. This affects the manner in which each adapts and allocates resources. The paper offers a conceptual framework to guide the extension effort: the concern should not only be upon what is “known”, but also on what is not. It presents findings of a survey of attitudes upon three dimensions relevant to adaptation: whether climate change is occurring; the appropriate response; and science as a solution. It found varying degrees of scepticism amongst stakeholders, and of acceptance of the need to respond. Trust in science and scientists varied. The confounding influences of respondents’ location and self-described category somewhat limited the interpretation of results, which had been analysed by ANOVA. This work should nevertheless assist in both canvassing further the stakeholders and in comprehending their adaptation decisions.