Climate Change Action Research Articles

Climate Change Litigation and the European Court of Human Rights - A Strategic Next Step?

Abstract The purpose of the article is to analyse if bringing a case before the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) could be impactful in forcing greater climate change action. Part of this analysis is built upon the review of two climate change cases brought before national courts, since they have different outcomes even though both use the fundamental human rights of the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) as their legal bases. The cases are the Urgenda Foundation v. Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Union of Swiss Senior Women for Climate Protection v. Swiss Federal Council and Others. The Urgenda case establishes a link between the rights in article 2 and 8 ECHR, and climate change, which creates a positive obligation for a state to protect these rights by acting to combat climate change. The Swiss Climate Protection case, however, is dismissed. Both cases highlight some of the challenges regarding climate change in relation to the fundamental human rights of the ECHR. Judgments by the ECtHR are final, and the formally and informally binding nature of case law from the court is argued to indicate the possibility of a powerful tool in relation to climate change action since 47 states will be affected by the court’s decisions. However, if a case brought before the ECtHR has an unfavourable outcome in relation to forcing greater governmental action in combating climate change, this may also have greater consequences than such an outcome of a domestic challenge, since it will set a minimum standard of care, or completely exclude climate change in relation to human rights. The article argues that it should be considered worth the identified risks to bring a claim before the ECtHR even though it is uncertain if the evolving nature of the charter is ready to establish obligations in relation to climate change, due to the unprecedented and severe threat that climate change constitutes.

Better Late Than Never: Business Schools and Climate Change Action

In this interactive panel, we bring together a group of international scholars from the atmospheric science, engineering, political science, and business disciplines to engage the audience and panel in a discussion on: (a) climate change, its impact on well-being, economic opportunity, and equality; and (b) the role of business schools/scholars in leading response to the climate change impacts. The discussion will explore the gravity of threats posed by climate change to the world in general and to businesses in particular. It will include examples of innovative solutions that aim to minimize adverse climate change impacts and will unpack how business schools can lead through research and effective curriculum development. An interactive dialogue with the audience will address the challenges related to climate change education initiatives and how some schools have effectively designed and implemented programs. The potential role of the Academy of Management and its Organizations and Natural Environment (ONE) Division in building resilience against climate change and mitigating its impacts will also be discussed.

Decolonizing People, Place and Country: Nurturing Resilience across Time and Space

Indigenous peoples are easily classified as either dangerously vulnerable or inherently resilient to climate risks. There are elements of truth in both categorical statements. Yet neither is completely true. Indigenous vulnerability and resilience, and Indigenous groups’ adaptive responses to climate change, need to be understood in the messy contexts of lived experience, rather than either elegant social theories or didactic ideological politics. Climate change action and research needs to acknowledge and engage with the knowledges, ontologies and experiences of diverse Indigenous groups, along with the specific histories, geographies and impacts of colonization, and their consequences for both the colonized and colonizers. Climate change action and research needs to be integrated into wider de-colonial projects as the transformative impacts of anthropogenic climate change are inadequately addressed within both colonial and post-colonial frames. Negotiating respectful modes of belonging-together-in-Country to reshape people-to-people, people-to-environment and people-to-cosmos relationships in Indigenous domains is essential in responding to planetary scale changes in coupled human and natural systems. This paper outlines an approach that nurtures Indigenous self-determination and inter-generational healing to rethink the geopolitics of Indigenous resilience, vulnerability and adaptation in an era of climate change and the resurgence of Great Power geopolitics.

Cities as transnational climate change actors: applying a Global South perspective

The term ‘cities of the Global South’ has become an increasingly popular reference in urban studies and urban development practice. Notwithstanding, the term remains underexplored and the majority of research does not address whether the Global North/Global South dichotomy is a useful theoretical framework for urban studies. This article provides a more detailed analysis of the term Global South in urban research and presents benefits and pitfalls of applying a Southern perspective. Using the research field ‘cities as transnational climate change actors’ as an example, I highlight both advantages and problems of categorising urban areas as ‘cities of the Global South’. Structural differences between Northern and Southern cities regarding climate change action do exist, and theory building on cities as transnational actors is well advised to consider those differences in order to avoid a Global North bias. However, the categories Global North/Global South are only one possibility to analyse cities as transnational climate change actors and – depending on the research question – should be accompanied by analytical attention to additional factors such as geographical location, city size or political regimes.

Riskscapes of gender, disaster and climate change in Indonesia

AbstractThree prominent disasters in Indonesia demonstrate the importance of gender roles, relations and practices in delineating the social and spatial relations of Riskscapes, with implications for developing resilience to disaster and preparing for climate change. We build on a model of Riskscapes that incorporates power relations as a conceptual dimension and show how gender plays a central role in this, as well as intersecting with the other dimensions of Riskscape specification. We conclude with a series of hypotheses that can test the model and clarify and specify the ways gender requires incorporation into disaster and climate change Riskscape research, planning and action.

‘Less able’: how gendered subjectivities warp climate change adaptation in Ghana's Central Region

Vulnerabilities to climate change and adaptive action vary based on social differences that are bound up in complex power dynamics in any given place, culture, or context. Scholarly interest has shifted from gendered dynamics of climate change adaptation to the socio-political drivers of gendered inequalities that produce discriminatory opportunities for adaptation. This study utilises an intersectional subjectivities lens to examine how entrenched power dynamics and social norms related to gender, as well as age and marital status, galvanise or inhibit capacities to adapt in farming communities of Ghana’s Central Region. Through the use of interviews, focus group discussions, and photovoice sessions, we highlight gendered and intersectional subjectivities, roles, and responsibilities that centre on perceived differences in men’s and women’s strength and power. We then link resulting normative performances of gender to specific barriers to adaptation, such as lack of resources and agency, and demonstrate a pronounced dichotomy as women experience the brunt of these barriers and a persistent power imbalance that positions them as ‘less able’ to adapt than men. Such nuanced assessments of intersectional subjectivities are instrumental in supporting marginalised groups when deliberating and renegotiating inequitable power relations in climate change adaptation. Through repeated efforts at power subversion, emboldened social actors and critical scholars attuned to navigating power differentials can strengthen adaptive capacities and facilitate trajectories toward transformation.

Climate-Dependent Groundwater Discharge on Semi-Arid Inland Ephemeral Wetlands: Lessons from Holocene Sediments of Lagunas Reales in Central Spain

Wetlands are environments whose water balance is highly sensitive to climate change and human action. This sensitivity has allowed us to explore the relationships between surface water and groundwater in the long term as their sediments record all these changes and go beyond the instrumental/observational period. The Lagunas Reales, in central Spain, is a semi-arid inland wetland endangered by both climate and human activity. The reconstruction of the hydroclimate and water levels from sedimentary facies, as well as the changes in the position of the surface water and groundwater via the record of their geochemical fingerprint in the sediments, has allowed us to establish a conceptual model for the response of the hydrological system (surface water and groundwater) to climate. Arid periods are characterized by low levels of the deeper saline groundwater and by a greater influence of the surface freshwater. A positive water balance during wet periods allows the discharge of the deeper saline groundwater into the wetland, causing an increase in salinity. These results contrast with the classical model where salinity increases were related to greater evaporation rates and this opens up a new way of understanding the evolution of the hydrology of wetlands and their resilience to natural and anthropogenic changes.

From Climate Anxiety to Resilient Active Citizenship: when primary schools, parents and environmental groups work together to catalyse change

This article presents the perspectives and experiences of parents of primary school children who, as climate change activists, have been reflecting on the role of primary schools and actively engaging in their children's school by piloting a climate change action initiative in close collaboration with environmental organisations. At the intersection of primary education, climate change and active citizenship for social change, this article contributes to the following questions: What is the role of primary schools regarding the current climate emergency? How can primary schools contribute to building a generation of emotionally resilient, environmentally aware, proactive citizens? While the authors' professional backgrounds and work are not directly in education, they hope that reflections about active citizenship and social change can bring rich perspectives on the role of schools and formal education on climate change. The first section reflects on the unique role of primary schools regarding the current climate emergency. The second section discusses the authors' own experience of setting up a Climate Action Group of parents, school staff, teachers and pupils, and how they were able to support the school to put climate action at its core.

Climate Justice at the Local Level

Climate change is an issue of social justice, as it affects different social groups in the urban space differently. Yet, while formulating climate action plans, local governments often disregard the relationship between climate change and justice. By using content analysis, this article explores climate change action plans of Turkish municipalities from the perspective of climate justice. It concludes that action plans of Turkish municipalities do not consider climate change as a problem of justice despite the emerging or exacerbated inequalities in the urban space caused by climate change.

Breaking Negative Stereotypes of Climate Activists: A Conjoint Experiment:

We tested 44 variations in profiles of climate change activists to see what affected willingness to associate with them. The largest effects were from activists’ perspectives on climate change, how...

Contested values and climate change mitigation in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Contested values and climate change mitigation in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia

Advancing capacity to adapt to climate change: addressing information needs in the Australian property industry

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to understand the sources of climate change information used and trusted by key stakeholders in the Australian property industry, their information needs and their capacity to translate that information into decision-making.Design/methodology/approachQualitative research applying in-depth interviews with 24 key stakeholders from a diverse range of property/real estate companies in Australia.FindingsThis research identified a wide range of information types used by key stakeholders, ranging from reliance on unsophisticated mass media reporting to detailed analysis of scientific research. The capacity of stakeholders to translate this information for their organisation was polarised; 11 of the 24 interviewees indicated they had the capacity, while the other 13 indicated they did not, often owing to time horizons or lack of current interest within the organisation or from clients.Research limitations/implicationsThis research was limited to 24 in-depth interviews and is not intended to be a representative sample. However, this limitation is offset by the fact that a diverse range of stakeholders were interviewed and an in-depth and rich understanding has been provided about their approach to climate change.Practical implicationsThe results can inform the development of better communication channels for climate change for the property industry by supporting science-practice collaborations in the timely and effective dissemination of research. This is important to understand given the identified need to bridge the gap among research, policy and practice.Social implicationsClimate change poses significant challenges and risks for built environments. The property industry, as a key stakeholder, has great potential to influence current practices. The results reported here assist in addressing these challenges.Originality/valueAt present, limited research globally has been conducted about climate change actions in the property industry. This research responds to this gap.

Editorial

Editorial

Characterizing New Wintering Sites for Monarch Butterfly Colonies in Sierra Nevada, Mexico.

Every year, Danaus plexippus (Linnaeus, 1758) travels to hibernate in oyamel fir forests located between the limits of the states of Michoacán and Mexico in Mexico. Climate change and anthropogenic actions are diminishing oyamel fir forests in Mexico, putting pressure on the habitats of monarch butterflies. In the last decade, new colonies outside their usual range have been predicted through modeling and reported by the National Commission on Protected Areas of Mexico. The objectives of the study were to recover information on the historical and new hibernation sites, reported or modeled, from different literature sources. We also aimed to perform a bioclimatic and forest biometric characterization of new monarch butterfly colonies located in Sierra Nevada in Mexico to provide information to aid in conservation strategies for the monarch butterfly population. We conducted field trips to georeference the colonies at sites located in the Atlautla municipality in Mexico State. Climatic, topographic, and forest biometric variables were used to characterize the sites physically. It was found that the butterfly’s roosts occurred at a higher elevation than those recorded by other sources. The locations where the monarch’s colonies were established, in the east of Mexico State, provide information relevant to defining and developing policies for their conservation.

Kierkegaard in the Anthropocene: Hope, Philosophy, and the Climate Crisis

What is the role of hope in the climate crisis? What type of hope does this crisis demand? How can we sustain hope, in order to resist falling into fatalistic despair or paralyzing fear, whilst always guarding against hope giving way to happy complacency? This essay considers these urgent questions through a novel encounter between the Christian philosophy of Søren Kierkegaard, and recent eco-critical and empirical research on the affectivity of climate change mobilization. I begin by outlining the scope and aims of this essay (1st section), before introducing some affective dimensions of the climate crisis (2nd section), particularly the place of hope. Next, I examine Kierkegaard’s account of hope, and explore the extent to which it corresponds to the type of hope needed in the climate crisis (3rd section). Here, I show that Kierkegaardian hope is a therapeutic practice which subverts the eco-anxiety and sense of helplessness that can otherwise prevent individuals from engaging in positive climate action. Finally, I compare Kierkegaard’s theologically grounded hope with the hope held by climate change activists without religious faith (4th section). Participating in collective climate action anchors the individual’s hopes in a larger, collective hope, which I suggest is sustainable in ways that are partially analogous to the therapeutic functions of Kierkegaard’s Christian hope.

Ending slavery by decarbonisation? Exploring the nexus of modern slavery, deforestation, and climate change action via REDD+

Activities involving deforestation are high-risk for modern slavery, and this is an issue which has global consequences for forest environments and communities. Despite this, little work is being done to eradicate modern slavery from these sectors. Antislavery interventions have often been separate from the work of development providers despite sharing many congruent objectives. Here we outline one sector that could see the integration of antislavery and development interventions to support both at-risk environments and highly vulnerable communities. It is proposed that antislavery interventions are incorporated into the national strategies of the “Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation” (REDD+) programme which targets vulnerable communities to prevent deforestation and forest degradation. It is within these communities that vulnerability factors to modern slavery persist and lead to the degradation of forests. It is posited that the incorporation of antislavery interventions with REDD+ would improve efficiencies, target more vulnerable populations, protect the environment and support the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By combining these efforts we can combat the effects of the modern slavery-environmental degradation nexus within an ecosystem that has been shown to be vital in the fight against anthropogenic climate change. With the renewal of REDD+ due, now is the time to integrate these measures.

Critical Reflections on America’s Green New Deal: Capital, Labor, and the Dynamics of Contemporary Social Change

ABSTRACT The increasing urgency of the current climate crisis has been accompanied by a growing desire for constructive answers on how to confront the situation effectively and meaningfully. Yet, the pace of global climate change (GCC) continues to accelerate more rapidly than societal, institutional, and individual responses can be formed. The gap between increasingly sophisticated knowledge of objective biophysical threat, on the one hand, and our ability to transform society in accordance with this awareness, on the other hand, highlights the importance of ideology. Ideological barriers have become a major stumbling block for climate change activists and researchers. Focusing on the recent U.S. House Resolution for a Green New Deal, this paper examines how the U.S. political establishment ignores the underlying dynamic of capital and its drive toward ecological devastation and the hollowing out of labor. Given the urgent political task posed by GCC, the paper considers the potential of work time reduction (WTR) as a strategy for overcoming capitalism. The paper concludes by discussing the importance of critical theory.

Juliana v United States of America: The Final Frontier for Climate Litigation in America?

Summary This article analyses the protracted climate change case of Juliana v United States of America. We consider the history of the case as well as the most recent judgment of the Federal Court of Appeals, which seems to be the final judgment in this case as it is not foreseen that the case will be appealed with any success. The Juliana case provided hope for many people in the United States that the case would be able to succeed and possibly alter climate change policy in the country. Although the latest judgment will be disappointing to climate change activists and those affected by climate change, we agree with the ruling of the majority opinion in the Court of Appeals case and believe that it is a sound legal decision despite its general disapprobation.

Stakeholders’ Perception of Climate Actions in Some Developing Economies

Resilience, adaptation and mitigation are unique but complimentary actions in the fight against climate change (CC), particularly in developing countries. Although evidence suggest the inclusion of stakeholder opinions as part of the frameworks for combating CC, this evidence is not well substantiated, and is not extensively described in sub-Sahara African CC literature. While language remains a big issue in CC discussions, processes comprised within climate actions are equally as important as both the language and the results. It is on the basis of the confusion surrounding the language adopted as actions geared towards combating CC that this study seeks to examine the opinions/perception of CC actors in three West African nations. It looks at perceived and/or suitable solutions to selected CC-imposed challenges in the midst of socio-economic and environmental concerns. A total of 475 individuals, representing NGOs, public and private organizations involved with CC issues, as well as private persons concerned about CC, were recruited across Nigeria, Niger, and Benin, over a two-year period (April 2017–April 2019). A questionnaire containing 15 items was administered. The results of data analysis using chi-square and Fischer’s exact tests show that the mean number of CC actors differs within and across all three countries for all climate action types against CC-imposed challenges. While CC adaptive plans and projects are thought to yield immediate results, they are also observed to be cheaper in comparison to mitigation and resilience projects.

Cool planning: How urban planning can mainstream responses to climate change

Climate change action requires both adaptation and mitigation. Both need urban planning in strategic and statutory processes to mainstream the innovations now appearing. Integrating adaptation and mitigation is demonstrated using two planning tools: water sensitive urban design and biophilic urbanism and both need to be mainstreamed through urban planning in a rapidly warming world.Mitigation must be about grasping the need for decoupling fossil fuel use from GDP and data indicates this is underway. Cities like Shanghai and Beijing are showing how emerging cities can decouple wealth and car use. Disruptive innovations underway are solar and wind power, batteries, and electrifying transport but need planning tools to mainstream them. Emerging disruptive innovations include Trackless Trams that function like light rail but at significantly less cost and Hydrogen in fuel-cell vehicles for heavy transport and as an industrial fuel. The Theory of Urban Fabrics is used to show how emerging innovations can be mainstreamed in urban planning through each of the different fabrics of the city. This is illustrated using the six tools outlined in this paper to demonstrate how such nuanced and integrated urban planning responses to climate change can be mainstreamed.