Climate Change Perception and Adaptation in Small and Medium-Sized Municipalities in Central Germany

Abstract

The focus of research on municipal climate adaptation has been predominantly on large cities. Although research on climate adaptation in small and medium-sized municipalities is increasing, there is a lack of perspectives from local decision-makers in those municipalities. In this paper, we analyze the perceptions of climate change and the role of local climate adaptation in small and medium-sized municipalities in Central Germany. We analyze the sensory observations of climate change and climate risks, the attitudes and awareness of climate change, the integration of climate knowledge and information, the local discourses and interpretations of climate change, the perception of climate risk management, and the relevance of the policy field. Our database consists of a survey of local decisionmakers in the region. The results reveal that decision-makers in smaller municipalities tend to be less aware of climate change and corresponding risks, incorporate less climate information into their daily work, and discuss climate policy more negatively than in larger municipalities. Furthermore, climate policy is less institutionalized in smaller municipalities. Our perception-based approach provides an actor-centered perspective on local climate adaptation, which is particularly valuable for small and medium sized municipalities. We contribute to a more nuanced understanding of climate adaptation at the local level.