Abstract:
Perceptions of the environment vary significantly from individual to individual, often influenced by contextual factors. Such environmental perceptions can also reveal disparities among people, which raises the question of whether this variation manifests distinctively within specific regions. Specifically, the unresolved issue at hand is whether environmental challenges are more pronounced in some areas than in others, and if there exists a link between these environmental perceptions and the prevalence of environmental issues in a particular location. Focusing on this problem, the primary aim of this research is to analyze the environmental perception disparities among individuals in rural and urban settings, identifying environmentally stressed zones and comparatively less affected zones. Additionally, this study seeks to examine disparities in environmental perceptions along gender lines within these contexts. In doing so, it will assess inequalities in environmental education and awareness within the community, discrepancies in the use of natural resources, and variations in engagement with environmental initiatives. The study areas are selected as Andaravewa Grama Niladhari Division in the Anuradhapura District and the Third Step 1/255 Grama Niladhari Division. Primary data were collected through a Google Forms-based questionnaire, with data analysis performed using the Relative Importance Index (RII) method. Findings indicate limited knowledge of climate change impacts among rural communities and minimal awareness of environmental pollution among urban residents. Quantitatively, the majority identified electronic waste as the most common type of waste generated. While rural communities exhibit greater awareness of the threats to natural resources, they are also predominantly engaged in activities harmful to these resources. Additionally, more than 50% of the urban population relies on wood as a fuel source for cooking. Notably, environmental perception is higher among women, as revealed by the study. Identifying and addressing these environmental perception disparities could enable the development of solutions that potentially reduce environmental challenges over the coming centuries.
