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Author
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Evina Mapanzure
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Title
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Department of Environmental Science Knowledge, Attitudes , and Practices (KAP) OF FAES staff and students towards the banning of coal as a source of energy in developing countries
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Abstract
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The burning of coal as a source of energy has been identified as a major contributor to environmental pollution and climate change. As a result, there has been a global movement towards phasing out the use of coal in favour of cleaner energy sources. However, in developing countries where access to affordable energy is still a challenge, banning coal can have significant social and economic implications. This study aims to explore the perspectives of staff and students in the faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences.
Materials and methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was carried out and research questionnaires were used as data-collecting instruments. 70 research questionnaires were administered among the respondents. The questionnaire consisted of four sections: demographic characteristics, knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP). Data analysis: Data were analysed using SPSS version 20 to generate frequencies on each KAP question. On each KAP question, the preferred response was assigned a score of 1 and unpreffered responses a score of 0. The total percentage KAP was calculated as total score/total possible*100%. Results: The results showed that knowledge concerning the banning of coal was low (45%). The majority of the participants (99%) identified energy as a major use of coal in developing countries, while 80% recognized climate change as a potential environmental impact of coal usage. However, when it comes to knowledge of the intended banning of coal, only 67% of the participants had heard about it, and only 34% knew that the proposed year for the ban is 2030. The majority of participants (93%) agreed that developed countries should provide assistance to developing countries to transition to cleaner energy sources, and identified policies (23%), economic development (47%), and education and awareness (21%) as potential steps that developing countries could take to transition to cleaner energy sources.
The study found that 55% of participants had fair attitudes toward banning coal, but only 43% believed that developing countries should adopt this measure. Half of the participants believed that health risks associated with coal mining and burning justified a ban, but only 30% were willing to pay higher energy bills to support the transition to alternative sources of energy. Additionally, 66% believed that the ban would have negative economic impacts on developing countries. Despite this, 91% believed that developed countries had a responsibility to help developing countries transition to alternative sources of energy. Furthermore, 60% placed greater importance on the benefits of using coal than its environmental impacts. While 93% believed that individuals and organizations should reduce carbon emissions, only 23% identified policies as a means to enable the transition to alternative energy sources. Practices were fair with (51%) as most staff and students do not use coal for domestic purposes.
Relating: On the associations between demographic factors and attitudes towards banning coal significant relationships were found between age (χ²=17.671, DF=8, p=0.024), sex (χ² = 74.866, df = 6, p < .001), education level (χ² = 17.671, df = 8, p = .024), marital status (χ² = 92.972, df = 9, p < .001), and residential area (χ² = 92.341, df = 12, p < .001) with support for banning coal. Education level was associated with year (χ² = 77.338, df = 6, p < .001) and steps to transition (χ² = 71.000, df = 3, p < .001) away from coal.
Conclusion: Knowledge was relatively low, attitude was fairly positive and practices were fairly positive.
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Date
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JUNE 2024
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Publisher
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BUSE
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Keywords
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Key terms: coal banning, Knowledge, Attitudes, Practices, Bindura
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Supervisor
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NIL
Evina Mapanzure