Tahap kesedaran komuniti pinggir pantai terhadap kenaikan aras laut

Abstract

Komuniti pinggir pantai merupakan golongan yang paling terdedah kepada bahaya perubahan kenaikan paras laut di Malaysia. Walaupun negeri Selangor tidak termasuk di dalam zon kritikal kenaikan aras laut, namun faktor lokasi petempatan yang berhampiran garis pantai serta topografi yang rendah berupaya mencetuskan bencana pada masa hadapan. Justeru itu, makalah ini bertujuan mengenal pasti tahap pengetahuan dan kesedaran komuniti pinggir pantai terhadap perubahan iklim dan kenaikan aras laut. Sebanyak 1050 responden telah dipilih secara rawak bagi tujuan tinjauan soal selidik di sekitar sepuluh petempatan utama zon pesisir pantai di Selangor, bermula dari Bagan Nakhoda Omar, Sabak Bernam sehinggalah ke Tanjung Sepat, Kuala Langat, Selangor. Di samping itu, temu bual informan utama dan diskusi kumpulan fokus, khususnya komuniti nelayan pinggir pantai telah dilakukan. Hampir 70 peratus daripada responden sedar terhadap isu berkaitan perubahan iklim dan pengaruhnya terhadap kesihatan manusia menjadi kenyataan yang paling kerap dikaitkan. Bagaimanapun, kesedaran tentang bahaya perubahan iklim kepada peningkatan aras laut mengambarkan peratusan yang sederhana. Hasil kajian membuktikan responden berbangsa Melayu mempunyai nilai skor tertinggi untuk konstruk pengetahuan, kesedaran dan tanggapan terhadap perubahan iklim. Hasilan tahap keprihatinan perubahan iklim menunjukkan kawasan Sg. Nibong, Kuala Selangor mempunyai tahap keprihatinan tertinggi (nilai indeks = 0.971), manakala Kg. Batu Laut, Kuala Langat mempunyai nilai keprihatinan paling rendah (nilai indeks = 0.183). Kajian ini telah membuktikan wujudnya perbezaan kesedaran dan keprihatinan komuniti pinggir pantai terhadap perubahan iklim dan kenaikan aras laut berdasarkan lokasi petempatan dan kumpulan bangsa. Adalah diharapkan, hasil kajian ini berupaya memberi maklumat penting kepada pihak penguasa dalam pengurusan dan perancangan program adaptasi serta penyesuaian terhadap sebarang bencana berkaitan kenaikan paras laut.

Katakunci: kenaikan aras laut, keprihatinan, komuniti, perubahan iklim, pinggir pantai, variabiliti

 Coastal community’s awareness and concern on sea level rise

The coastal community is the group most affected by sea level rise hazard in Malaysia. Although the state of Selangor is excluded from the critical zone of sea level rise, however the proximity of coastal dwellings to shoreline and low coastal topography may trigger catastrophe in the future. This paper aims to identify the level of knowledge and awareness of the coastal community towards climate change and sea level rise. A total of 1050 respondents were randomly selected through survey ranging from Bagan Nakhoda Omar, Sabak Bernam to Tanjung Sepat, Kuala Langat, Selangor. In addition, main informant interviews and focus group discussions, especially coastal fishing communities, were also conducted. Nearly 70 per cent of respondents are aware of issues related to climate change and their impact on human health has become the most influential to coastal dwellers. However, the reponsdents’ awareness on the dangers of climate change to the sea level rise shows an average result at 43 percent. The findings show that Malay respondents have the highest score for knowledge constructs, awareness and perceptions of climate change. The climate change awareness level shows Sg. Nibong, Kuala Selangor has the highest level (index value = 0.971), while Kg. Batu Laut, Kuala Langat has the lowest value (index value = 0.183). The study showed differences between the awareness and concern of coastal community towards climate change and sea level rise based on location of settlements and between groups of people. It is hoped that this study will be able to provide significant information to relevent authorities in management and planning of adaptation programs as well as adaptation to any disaster associated to sea level rise.

Keywords: sea level rise, awareness, community, climate change, coastal line, variability