Coastal Community Climate Change Outreach Survey
Introduction
The University of Southern California (USC) Sea Grant Program1 and Heal the Bay2 are
conducting a community outreach survey to learn about the perceptions of climate change and
its potential risks in Los Angeles communities. We have created this survey to gain a better
understanding of your experience with climate science, how your community is and may be
impacted by climate change, assess the needs of the community, and gauge the community’s
interest in further climate adaptation education and community resiliency building.
The information collected from the survey will enable us to appropriately tailor our community
events, workshops, education and training programs in order to provide the most useful
education curriculum and tools to the community.
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This survey should take between 10 – 15 minutes to complete. We thank you for your help.
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The University of Southern California (USC) Sea Grant Program works with coastal communities to
conduct scientific research, education, training and extension programs concentrating on issues arising
out of the necessity of managing people and resources in an intensely developed coastline.
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Heal the Bay is a collaboration of local businesses, community leaders, grassroots activists, and
volunteers in an ongoing effort to promote healthy marine ecosystems through community action
programs.
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Background/Demographics
1. What is your gender?
 Male
 Female
2. What is your age?
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under 18 years
18-34 years
35-44 years
45-64 years
over 64 years
3. In which city do you live in? (Please provide name of city and zip code).
Name of city _________________________________
Zip Code ____________________
4. What is your current housing status?
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Rented
Occupied without payment of rent
Owned by you or someone in this household with a mortgage or loan
Owned by you or someone in this household free and clear (without a mortgage or loan)
Other (Please Describe) ____________________
5. How long have you lived in your current residence?
 Less than 1 year
 1-5 years
 6-10 years
 11-20 years
 More than 21 years
6. What is the highest degree or level of education you have completed?
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Less than 12th grade (no diploma)
High school graduate or equivalent
Some college, no degree
Associate's degree
Bachelor's degree
Graduate or professional degree
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7. What is your professional or employment status?
 Employed for wages
 Homemaker
 Military
 Out of work and looking for work
 Out of work but not currently looking for work
 Retired
 Self-employed
 Student
 Unable to work
8. What is your total household income?
 Less than $19,999
 $20,000-$39,000
 $40,000-$59,999
 $60,000-$79,999
 $80,000-$99,999
 More than $100,000
9. What is your marital status?
 Not married
 Married/Long-term partnership
 Widowed
 Divorced
 Separated
10. Which of the following best describes your race/ethnicity?
 White/Caucasian
 Black/African-American
 Hispanic/Latino
 Asian/Pacific Islander
 Middle Eastern
 American Indian/Alaska Native
 Other
11. Are you affiliated with any of the following types of organization? (Please mark all that apply).
 Business
 Environmental
 Religious
 Cultural
 Educational
 Political
 Other __________________________
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Climate Knowledge/Perceptions
12. How concerned are you about climate change?
 Very concerned
 Moderately concerned
 Somewhat concerned
 Not concerned
13. Please indicate which of the following statements comes closest to your opinion of climate
change or global warming?
 Climate change/global warming is caused mostly by natural causes.
 Climate change/global warming is caused mostly by human causes.
 Climate change/global warming is caused by a mix of human and natural causes.
 The climate is not changing.
14. How well informed do you feel you are about climate change?
 Well informed
 Moderately informed
 Not well informed
 Not at all informed
15. Where do you get your information? (Please mark all that apply).
 Books (Paper, Electronic, and/or Audio)
 Church
 Conferences/Seminars/Symposiums/Workshops
 Documentaries/Films
 Internet
 Journals (Paper or Electronic)
 Library
 News Programs
 Newspaper/Magazines (Paper or Electronic)
 Radio
 Relatives, friends, associates, co-workers
 School, classroom, instructors
 Other ____________________
16. Do you think your community will be affected by the impacts of climate change?
 Yes
 No
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17. How do you think climate change will impact your community in the following areas over the
next 20-40 years? (Please mark all that apply).
Increase
Decrease
Stay the Same
Don't Know
Stress on land animals
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Storm strength
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Stress on marine animals
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Rate of sea level rise
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Flooding occurrence
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Seawater temperatures
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Flood level
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Storm occurrence
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Stream temperatures
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Air temperatures
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Water supplies
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Coastal water quality
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Amount of rainwater runoff
into ocean
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18. How necessary do you think it is for your city to take steps to plan for the impacts of climate
change?
 Very necessary
 Moderately necessary
 Somewhat necessary
 Not necessary
19. In the past year, have you made any changes to reduce the impacts of climate change?
 Yes
 No
20. What changes have you made? (Please mark all that apply).
 Reduced consumption of electricity. Examples: Using energy-efficient products, turning off
lights or appliances when not in use, reduced use of clothes/hair dryer & other electrical
devices, reduced heating and/or cooling systems in home, and using green electricity (solar,
water, other).
 Reduced water consumption. Examples: Reduced/minimized water usage, installed water
saving devices, e.g. shower heads/water-efficient appliances, and installed water storage
system, e.g. water tank.
 Reduced waste. Examples: Recycling, composting, and using reusable bags (opposed to
plastic bags).
 Reduce fuel consumption. Examples: Minimize travel by car and/or plane, drive energy/fuel
efficient car, use public transportation and/or bicycle and other non-motorized travel
 Growing and/or buying food locally. Examples: i.e. vegetables, fruits, herbs.
 Other ____________________
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21. Which of the following statements best describes the extent to which you are currently
helping to reduce the impacts of climate change on your community?
 I do as much as I can
 I don't do as much as I would like to
 I don't want to do more than I am already
 Can't say
22. Please mark the reason(s) that best describes your answer to question 21. (I do as much as
I can, I don't do as much as I would like to, I don't want to do more than I am already, Can't say)
(Please mark all that apply).
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Doing more would cost me too much money
I am not certain that human activities are the cause of climate change
I am not worried about the effects of climate change on coastal communities
I don't believe that things I could do would have any impact
I don't have the time
I don't know what I can do to help
I don't really understand the climate change problem
I have other more important priorities in my life such as work, school, and/or familial duties
It is not my responsibility to protect the coastal community from climate change
My friends and/or family members would not approve
23. Have you participated in any workshops about climate change?
 Yes
 No
 Can't recall
List workshop(s) on climate change have you attended.
____________________________________________________________________________
24. Would you like to learn more about how your community can plan for the impacts of climate
change?
 Yes
 No
25. Which topic(s) related to climate change are you interested in learning more about?
____________________________________________________________________________
Thank you for taking our survey!
If you have any questions please contact
seagrant@usc.edu
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