Abstract:
Climate change is a global issue. The academe plays an important role in disseminating
information about climate change; one way is by conducting surveys. This study investigated the
perceptions and level of awareness on global climate change of the different sectors in Benguet
State University. Through cluster sampling, three hundred sixty (360) respondents were used
comprising of four sectors – administrators, faculty, students, and non-teaching personnel. The
different sectors in the university have similar perceptions on climate change - it is real and
harmful; human activities that caused it are pollution due to industry; it concerns them and must
be addressed by everyone including BSU; and actions can be done to address it whether at home
or in the campus such as waste segregation and tree planting. On their level of awareness, the
respondents are highly aware of climate change as a global issue; ways/devices/methods that
help mitigate climate change impact such as more efficient cars/appliances and alternative energy
sources; and on the difference that an individual and an institution can make on the projected
impacts of climate change. Overall, there are no significant differences on the perceptions and level
of awareness on climate change among the sectors. However, significant differences were noted
according to the sectors’ level/amount of exposure, basis of beliefs, and access to information.
There seems to be room for improvement with respect to what BSU is doing to address climate
change as indicated by the low percentage of respondents who believe BSU is doing its part to
address climate change. BSU as an academic institution has an important role to play in alleviating
the effects of climate change within the community and the municipality. It should create more
avenues for the involvement of all the sectors in the university in its campaign on climate change
mitigation especially on its Eco-Waste Management Program and allow for better participation on
the Information, Education, and Communication (IEC) arm of the said program.
