A RESEARCH conducted by the Fiji National University's College of Engineering, Science and Technology shows that about 90 per cent of those interviewed believe that climate change is God's will.
Doctor Francis Mani said very few people attributed human-induced climate change to emissions of smoke from factories.
"Mostly people are unaware of how humans influence our climate. Approximately 90 per cent of the respondents believe that it is God's will and they cannot do anything," he said.
"It says in the Bible that the world will come to an end because humans have committed a lot of sins and climate change is probably punishment from God."
Dr Mani said a lack of awareness and cultural impediments such as spiritual beliefs acted as barriers to adaptation, making vulnerable rural communities less resilient to climate change
The research also revealed that over the past 20 years, there has been a loss of distinct weather seasons, more intense and frequent rainfalls, cooler nights and drastic impacts on agriculture.
It also showed how people were generally willing to adapt but did not know how while some were not concerned about it at all and indicated that God would take care of it.
"Few are restrictive to adaptation options," Dr Mani said.
"There is a great deal of misconception about climate variability and climate change.
"A call to action is widely ignored in the communities probably due to lack of awareness and there is a conspicuous gap between government policy decision makers and community-level stakeholders."