Percepción y expectativas de público sobre el riesgo asociado a los efectos del cambio climático en el cantón Machala, provincia de El Oro.

Abstract

Abstract: The study determines the perceptions and expectations of the population of the Machala canton regarding the risks associated with climate change, in order to guide a proposal for improving local climate risk management. A quantitative, non-experimental, cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured survey of 14 questions administered to 384 people. The results show a high level of knowledge, as 98% of respondents have heard about climate change, and a high perception of risk, identifying flooding, rising temperatures, and health effects as the main threats. Furthermore, nearly 60% expressed a strong willingness to participate in community-based prevention and mitigation actions, although 47% believe that local authorities are not taking sufficient concrete action to address this issue. The conclusions highlight the urgent need to strengthen environmental education, improve inter-institutional coordination, and implement measures such as reforestation, improvements to the drainage system, green infrastructure, and participatory spaces for local climate planning.