Santander Choice Experiment
Elicitation of public preferences for climate change mitigation measures.
Name of the Enumerator: _______________________
Date: _______________________________________
Time Started: ________________________________
Time Ended: _________________________________
Place: _________________________________
CE version (circle one): 1 2
My name is ….. , I am coming from X University/Institute and I am working for a project
financed by the European Union. We are carrying out this survey to examine how people
live on the coast in Santander and their views with regards to effects of climate change.
Understanding people’s perceptions will provide useful insights to policy making towards
the design of efficient and effective climate change mitigation programmes.
We would be most grateful if you could take about 15 minutes to complete this
questionnaire. Responses are strictly confidential and there are no correct or wrong
answers; we just want your opinion. Thank you in advance for your cooperation.
Part 1: Warm-up questions: Climate change perceptions and actions taken
1. In your opinion, which of the following do you consider to be the most serious
problems currently facing the world as a whole? Choose three and rank them from 1
to 3 according to their importance to you
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
Global warming
International terrorism
Poverty, lack of food and drinking water
The spread of an infectious disease
A major global economic downturn
The proliferation of nuclear weapons and armed conflicts
The increasing world population
Other (spontaneous - specify) __________
None
No answer
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2. What are the three environmental risks that you find most worrying for Santander?
Choose three and rank them from 1 to 3 according to their importance to you
a) Flooding
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b) Marine pollution
c) An industrial accident
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d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
Air or water pollution
Forest fire
A tsunami
A storm
Other (spontaneous - specify) __________
None
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3. How severely do you believe the following goods and services are nowadays
threatened because of climate change and sea level rise in Santander? (On a scale
from 1 to 5 with 1 indicating least perceived risk and 5 strong risk)
Goods and Services
Recreation from beach
Wildlife in the coastal and marine ecosystem
Tourism and local infrastructure
Human health
1
2
3
4
5
DK/NA
4. Could you please tell us on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree)
what you think about the following statements?
1
The frequency and extend of flooding in Santander will
increase...
...in the next 5 years
... in the next 30 years
... in the next 60 years
The frequency and extend of storms in Santander will
increase...
...in the next 5 years
... in the next 30 years
... in the next 60 years
Unless action is taken the size of the beach will be
significantly reduced...
... in the next 5 years
... in the next 30 years
... in the next 60 years
2
3
4
5
DK/NA
5. Imagine that you have just won a lottery. Please circle your preferred payoff option
(A or B) under each payment alternative. Each alternative pays 500 euro in a month
from today or 500 euro+X in twelve months from today with X varying in each
choice:
Payment
Alternative 1
(pays amount below in
1 month)
Payment
Alternative 2
(pays amount below
in 12 months)
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
500
510
520
550
570
600
650
700
750
800
1000
Annual
Interest Rate
2.18%
4.36%
10.9%
15.27%
21.8%
32.73%
43.6%
54.54%
65.45%
109%
Preferred Alternative
(circle)
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
B
Part 2: Valuation task
Scenario
The Bay of Santander is the largest estuary on the North coast of Spain with nearly half of
the population of the area, 250.0000 inhabitants, being gathered around it. The seaside
ecosystem is of high ecological value while offering significant opportunities for
recreation to locals and tourists. The bay and its intertidal area play an important role
for migrating birds and invertebrates and opposite of the port there is a Natura 2000
area, where the shell fish is being caught.
However, due to climate change and anthropic pressure, the morphology of the bay has
suffered important changes in the last centuries.
–
–
–
–
the Bay is severely affected by periodic flooding events resulting in
important erosion processes and is highly vulnerable to climate change
resulting in sea level rise
the large urban areas around the Bay, the transportation and lifesupporting systems are severely endangered.
health risks are present because of regular jellyfish outbreaks (medusa
Carabela portuguesa )
the biodiversity will also be affected if the area for shell fishery is altered
by climate change and not suitable for this type of fisheries anymore.
At the moment work is going on to evaluate flooding risks and marine climate variability
and design an efficient risk mitigation programme to protect the urban area of Santander
and recover the seaside ecosystem.
Specifically, the planned risk mitigation programme includes technologies aiming to
improve the management of sediment stocks as well as technologies for nourishment,
dredging and coastline stabilization. The implementation of the proposed programme is
expected to influence the following characteristics:
1) Beach size:
o Low: The four main beaches in Santander (Pedro please specify)
will reduce from 3kn long that are now to pocket ones. Pocket
beaches and beaches located at the flood prone Somo split will
disappear due to erosion
o Medium: Renurishment of the four main beaches in Santander
will preserve their size. Pocket beaches and beaches located at the
flood prone Somo split will be significantly reduced due to
erosion
o High: Renurishment of the main beaches in Santander and pocket
beaches will preserve their size throughout the year.
2) Biodiversity (Wildlife):
o Low: The area for shell fishery is altered by climate change and
is not suitable for this type of fisheries anymore. The Bay of
Santander is no longer a stop for migrating birds and
invertebrates
o Medium: The shell fishery is preserved but the Bay is no longer
a stop for migrating birds and invertebrates
o High: Current level of biodiversity is preserved
3) Health Risks (risk of being hurt by harmful invasive species such as Medusa
Portugessa):
o Low: current risk estimated at being hurt once every year
o Medium: risk of being hurt is once every month
o High: risk of being hurt is as high as once in a week
To cover the expenses of the relevant mitigation measures new municipal taxes on
drinking water and waste water will be issued. The additional monthly cost to your
household (minimum tax for water) for the next 5 years will be:





0 euros per month
2 euros per month
4 euros per month
5 euros per month
6 euros per month
The additional funds collected will be managed by the municipality and will be
exclusively used for implementing the risk mitigation project.
The levels for all attributes correspond to the situation in Santander in:
 5 years (SPLIT 1)
 30 years(SPLIT 2)
 60 years(SPLIT 3)
In what follows, we will present you with a sequence of cards displaying alternative risk
mitigation/management plans. In each of these cards we ask you to choose the one that is
most preferred to you. Option C always corresponds to the continuation of the current
management, under no new policy response and no new taxes to your household.
Please keep in mind that in this kind of surveys people often tend to overstate their
willingness to pay to contribute to the proposed project. You are kindly asked to consider
the impact of the extra amount to your family budget and the reduction in your disposable
income for other goods it implies before stating a choice.
Choice Cards
Choice Set
1
2
3
4
5
6
Option A
Option B
Option C
Debriefing questions
1. On a scale from 1 to 4 how difficult did you find the choice between the cards? (with
one meaning very easy and 4 meaning highly difficult)
1
2
3
4
5
don’t know
2. Do you trust that all additional funds you will pay will be used for reducing the
climate change associated risks in Santander?
Yes
No
3. On a scale from 1 to 4 how efficient do you think a new risk mitigation strategy can
be in tackling/halting the effects of climate change in the Santander Bay? (with one
meaning least efficient and 4 meaning highly efficient)
1
2
3
4
5
don’t know
4. On a scale from 1 to 4 how realistic you think the description of the status quo (option
C: situation in Santander in 10/30/60 years) (with one meaning totally unrealistic and
4 meaning very realistic)
1
2
3
4
5
don’t know
5. If you chose neither management programme (option C) in one of the choice sets
above, could you please tell us why you are against any management strategy?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
k)
I don’t believe that the flood reduction strategy would be successful
I do not have the financial capability to pay higher taxes
I would only pay higher taxes if other locals definitely do
I do not care for the flooding issues in the area
The government should pay
Big Polluters (industry, corporations) exerting pressure to the Santander Bay
should pay
I do not think that the flood reduction strategy is necessary, there is no risk
If flooding happens, I will move elsewhere
The benefits of the measures are too distant/I don’t care for future generation
Other (please specify) ______
I don t have enough information about the risk reduction measures
Part 3: Socio-economic information
1. Age: ______
2. Gender:
Female
Male
3. Nationality: ______
4. a) I am a Permanent Resident
b) I have a Summer House here
c) I am a Tourist
If a tourist: For what purpose have you visited Santander (can tick more than one)
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Cultural (museums, theatres, Castles, Churches)
Recreational
Swimming
Natural parks
Other (please specify) ______
5. Occupation
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
h)
Full-time job
Part-time job
Unemployed
Pensioner
Student
Farmer
Housewife
Other (please specify) ______
6. Number of people living in the house: ___________
7. Do you have children?
Yes
No
8. Which is the higher level of education you have completed or you are in process of
completing?
a)
f)
g)
h)
i)
j)
Less than primary school
Primary school
High school
Technical school
University
Postgraduate
9. In which one of the following categories of income brackets does your monthly net
household income lie?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
f)
g)
0-500€
500-1000€
1000-1500€
1500-2000€
2000-2500€
2500-3000€
Over 3000€
10. In political matters people talk of "the left" and "the right". How would you place
your views on this scale?
Left
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
Right
10
Refusal/DK
12. Could you please tell us on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree)
what do you think about the following statements?
Strongly
disagree
(1)
Current generations should
protect the environment to
ensure
that
future
generations can continue to
enjoy the benefits of the
goods it provides.
Intergenerational
equity
should be an important
consideration for policymaking.
I
would
financially
contribute to actions aiming
to mitigate climate change
even if benefits are to be
received
by
future
generations.
Disagree
(2)
Neither agree
nor disagree (3)
Agree
(4)
Strongly
agree
(5)
Don’t
know
I prefer enjoying the present
and not spend a big part of
my time worrying about the
future
Part 4: Risk perception
14. In your current house, do you feel threatened by flooding risk?
a)
b)
c)
d)
e)
Yes, seriously
Yes a little bit
No, not too much
No, not at all
No answer
15. Have been affected by flooding in the last 10 years?
Yes
No
If yes, have you been compensated for the financial losses suffered?
a)
b)
c)
d)
Yes, totally
Yes, partially
Yes, but only a few
Not at all
16. Are you privately insured against damages due to floods?
If NO, would you consider get insured in the future? Yes
17. Do you expect to be flooded within the next 30 years?
Yes
No
No
Yes
No
18. In order to avoid or manage flooding risks who do you trust the most? (circle as
appropriate)
1. The local government (Mayor etc)
2. Regional authorities
3. National authorities
4. Local NGOs
5. The European Union
6. Other (please specify)
7. No answer.
19 Do you remember of any floods in your area?
If yes please tell us which……………..
Yes
No
Interview Protocol
1. Respondent’s cooperation
Excellent
Fair
Average
2. Respondent s understanding of the choice task
Bad
Excellent
Fair
Average
3. Respondent being on a rush
Very rushed
Somewhat
No rush
Bad