Translating awareness into regulatory policy action: A study on climate change engagement and implementation

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Abstract

This study assessed the level of climate change awareness among residents in Sto. Domingo, Nueva Ecija, Philippines, with a focus on their understanding of the Local Climate Change Action Plan (LCCAP) (2018–2023). Using a quantitative descriptive method, 414 residents across 24 barangays were surveyed to evaluate their awareness of climate change causes, effects, mitigation, and adaptation. Results revealed moderate awareness overall, with higher understanding of causes and effects than of mitigation strategies. Television and local government sources were the most common information channels. Socio-demographic factors such as gender, employment, education, and particularly location, showed varying degrees of correlation with awareness levels, with those in more exposed areas being more informed. The study highlights the need for community-focused educational interventions and improved information dissemination tailored to local realities. Findings contribute to the understanding of how Climate Action Plans can be better aligned with community needs and the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 13 on Climate Action.

Keywords: Adaptation, Climate Change Awareness, Local Climate Change Action Plan, Mitigation, SDG 13 Climate Action, Sto. Domingo, Strategic Development Plan, Sustainable Development Goals

Authors’ individual contribution: Conceptualization — M.A.A.C. and S.C.A.; Methodology — M.A.A.C. and S.C.A.; Investigation — M.A.A.C. and S.C.A.; Data Curation — M.A.A.C. and S.C.A.; Writing — Original Draft — M.A.A.C. and S.C.A.; Writing — Review & Editing — A.R.S.; Visualization — A.R.S.; Supervision — S.C.A.

Declaration of conflicting interests: The Authors declare that there is no conflict of interest.

JEL Classification: D83, H75, I28, Q54, Q58

Received: 25.03.2025
Revised: 20.05.2025; 27.10.2025; 02.01.2026
Accepted: 26.01.2026
Published online: 28.01.2026

How to cite this paper: Concepion, M. A. A., Alvarez, S. C., & Santos, A. R. (2026). Translating awareness into regulatory policy action: A study on climate change engagement and implementation. Journal of Governance and Regulation, 15(1), 207–219. https://doi.org/10.22495/jgrv15i1art19