Is climate risk perception enough? Empirical evidence from Australian farmers

This research contributes to debates regarding the disconnect between climate risk perception and actual adaptation strategies among farmers. This disconnect is particularly concerning in the context of increasing climate-related disasters affecting agricultural systems. We challenge the assumption of a direct link and explore alternative factors influencing adaptation behaviour. We investigate the role of climate risk perception, alongside socio-economic and non-climatic factors, on farmers’ adoption of soil health practices in Australia. Using survey data from Australian farmers (n = 531), we employ Poisson regression to model the intensity of adaptation, measured as the count of soil health practices adopted. Our analysis finds that innovation attitude, risk aversion, training attendance, rainfall zone, age, location, and formal education are significant predictors of the intensity of adaptation, while climate risk perception is not directly significant. Our findings suggest a “risk-action gap” where climate risk perception does not necessarily translate into increased soil health adaptations. This highlights the need for targeted interventions beyond awareness-raising, focusing on location-specific needs, risk management, fostering innovation, and improving access to training.