Place attachment, climate change, and threat perceptions of Utah Wilderness

Place Attachment is the emotional and functional relationships that tie humans to natural environments. It has been shown to impact a person's ability to perceive threats significantly. This study compares the varying levels of Place Attachment with individual knowledge associated with the negative impacts of Climate Change. This study tested three hypotheses to investigate the relationships between individual levels of place attachment and awareness of current climate risks. Using an online questionnaire distributed to individuals (N= 110) associated with the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, we found significant relationships between Place Attachment styles and personal perceptions of Climate Change. These findings suggest that as individuals develop stronger attachment levels, they display more knowledge of climate threats impacting Utah wilderness areas. Climate-related threats will continue to increase, and understanding the possible relationship between individuals and place can serve as a motivational factor to induce change.