Navigating climate knowledge and anxiety in Ghana: insights from urban and peri-urban Greater Accra

Climate change poses significant risks to human well-being, yet its psychological impacts, such as climate anxiety, remain underexplored in developing countries. This study examines whether households’ knowledge of Ghana’s Nationally Determined Contributions (GH-NDCs) influences their climate anxiety levels. Using a mixed-method approach, data were collected through a questionnaire survey of 1,200 urban and peri-urban households and three focus group discussions in Adenta, Ga East, and Ga West municipalities in Ghana’s Greater Accra Region. Findings reveal that over half of households expressed anxiety about climate change, while only 11% were aware of the GH-NDCs. Notably, 67% of those with GH-NDC knowledge reported higher levels of worry compared to those without such knowledge. This has implications for households’ readiness and ability to adapt, given that climate knowledge could translate into climate action or inaction. These results underscore the need for intensified climate education and localized strategies to enhance household preparedness and adaptive capacity.