Teachers' Perceptions on the Impacts of Climate Change on Food Security and Livelihoods in Bangladesh: A Comparative Study

The aim of the study was to identify teachers’ different levels of concern about climate change and its impact on food security and livelihoods. It examined data collected from a structured questionnaire survey of 191 teachers from two private schools and colleges, one government school, and a public university in Sylhet, Bangladesh, using a quantitative methods approach. The study revealed that government and private school and college teachers are highly concerned about the impact of climate change on food security and livelihoods compared to public college teachers. The study also found that most teachers strongly believed that climate change directly affects food security and that unprecedented changes in climate parameters such as local and global temperature and precipitation make availability and access to quality food more difficult. Many teachers also believed that climate change and extreme weather events are leading to fragile crop yields and new livelihood challenges. In terms of food security, teachers were, on average, more concerned about the impact of climate change on soil fertility and the impact of extreme weather events on food price increases. In terms of livelihoods, teachers seemed more concerned about the effect of climate change on agricultural food production, natural resources, and employment. These outcomes can have an impact on enhancing interdisciplinary collaboration between educators and researchers, promoting action-oriented research, and facilitating knowledge exchange and transfer. The results of this study will encourage future researchers and policymakers to take better policies regarding ensuring food security and sustainable livelihoods.