Households' Adoption of Drought Tolerant Plants: An Adaptation to Climate Change?

Abstract

Adopting drought tolerant plants (DTPs) to conserve water is a potential adaptation to the predicted effects of climate change in the Midwest. Survey responses from 624 Missouri households were analyzed using a univariate probit model. DTP adoption was positively correlated with both low and high household incomes, living in rural subdivisions, time spent gardening, pro-environment attitudes, and concerns about drought. Policy interventions in newly drought-prone areas might include subsidizing the up-front cost of DTPs, requiring their use in new housing developments so DTPs are the default for buyers, and targeted educational efforts to environmental and gardening groups and rural residents.

Keywords

• adaptation
• adoption
• climate change
• drought tolerant plants
• gardening
• residential water conservation