Climate Literacy and Perceptions of Climate Change in Historic Settlements: The Cases of Amasra, Mudurnu and Taraklı

Abstract

Climate change poses increasing risks not only to natural ecosystems but also to cultural heritage sites and the communities that depend on them. Climate literacy, encompassing knowledge, awareness, and decision-making capacity, is essential for strengthening local resilience and supporting effective climate adaptation. This study investigates climate literacy and perceptions of climate change across historic settlements with different conservation statuses and socio-cultural characteristics. Amasra, Mudurnu, and Taraklı were selected as case studies because of their distinctive historic urban identities and heritage values. A quantitative research design was adopted, and face-to-face surveys were conducted with 300 participants between 15 May and 15 June 2026 using a structured questionnaire consisting of a climate literacy scale and questions on climate change perceptions. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), and K-Means cluster analysis. The analysis revealed meaningful differences in climate literacy across the three historic settlements, while the cluster analysis further showed that participants could be grouped into low, moderate, and high levels of climate awareness. These patterns suggest that climate literacy is not shaped solely by individual knowledge, but is also closely related to the geographical, conservation, and socio-cultural contexts in which people live. The findings therefore point to the importance of place-based climate education and heritage-sensitive approaches to climate adaptation in historic settlements.