<b>Public perceptions of climate change: A rural case study of Motupa community in Limpopo province, South Africa</b>

This study examined the perceptions of the Motupa community in Limpopo Province, South Africa, regarding the economic impact of climate change on their livelihood patterns. The study used focus group discussions and semistructured data collection methods to obtain the perceptions of 42 participants aged between 45 and 90 years. The findings indicate that climate change has had a significant impact on the rural environment, affecting water resources, subsistence agriculture, economic activities, farming, livestock, forest, and soil. The study population shows high levels of vulnerability to climate change due to low adaptive capacity, leading to poor production, crop and livestock failure, food insecurity, poverty, malnutrition, diseases, and viruses. The main causes of climate change identified by the community members are the increase in temperatures and unpredictable rainfall patterns. The economic activities of the community are also affected, resulting in livelihood vulnerability. This study highlights the urgent need for climate change adaptation measures to be developed for the Motupa community and other rural areas in South Africa.