Climate change has increasingly become a lived reality with implications that extend beyond environmental systems into emotional, psychological, and social domains. This study presents preliminary exploratory results from an ongoing international survey aimed at understanding perceptions of climate change and its impacts on personal well-being, community life, and everyday practices. The survey instrument integrates multiple theoretical frameworks: the Generalized Anxiety Disorder scale (GAD-7) to capture general anxiety, the Climate Change Anxiety Scale (CCAS) to assess climate-specific distress, the New Ecological Paradigm (NEP) to examine environmental worldviews, and established measures of pro-environmental behavior, mindfulness, and nature connectedness to explore resilience and adaptive strategies. Preliminary findings reveal diverse and sometimes contrasting attitudes toward human–environment interactions. While a majority acknowledge the risks of human interference in nature, uncertainty persists about the extent to which human ingenuity and technology can mitigate long-term consequences. Participants demonstrated strong recognition of anthropogenic climate drivers such as deforestation and greenhouse gas emissions, but misconceptions still remain. Experiences of local climate change emerged as a central theme, with many respondents reporting seasonal shifts, extreme weather, and disruptions to daily routines and community life. Emotional responses ranged from anxiety, stress, and restlessness to heightened awareness and pro-environmental motivation. These insights underscore the importance of positioning climate anxiety within broader frameworks of psychological well-being, environmental values, and lived experiences. By foregrounding these dimensions, this study contributes to a more human-centered understanding of climate change and highlights the role of emotional and behavioral responses in shaping adaptation strategies.

Authors:
Miroslav D. Vujičić, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Biljana Basarin, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Danijela Ćirić Lalić, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Bojana Dinić, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Marijana Topo, University of Novi Sad, Serbia
Uglješa Stankov, University of Novi Sad, Serbia

About the Presenter(s)
Dr Miroslav Vujičić is a Full Professor at the University of Novi Sad, Faculty of Sciences and project manager with experience in international projects focused on tourism, climate services, digital transformation, and data-driven decision-making.

Connect on Linkedin
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ugljesastankov/

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