Climate Knowledge Research Articles

Staff and service user perspectives of a co-located homelessness centre in Scotland: a mixed-methods evaluation.

Co-location and integration of services within a psychologically-informed environment is recommended for people experiencing homeless but there are few examples of this in the UK. Such a centre opened in Scotland in November 2021. To evaluate progress of the new centre. Mixed-methods pre-post-test design before (baseline) and two years after (follow-up). Baseline and follow-up staff surveys measured knowledge of trauma-informed care, well-being, team climate, and job satisfaction. The follow-up staff survey also evaluated staff support and service improvements. In-depth staff interviews were conducted at baseline (n=25) and follow-up and analysed thematically. A service users survey was also conducted. The staff survey showed significant improvements between baseline and follow-up in trauma-informed care, burnout, and team climate, together with improvements in support, service integration, and service user care. Service users reported high satisfaction with the new centre.Staff interviews identified a more psychologically-informed environment, better staff support, and improved opportunistic multidisciplinary working over the two years of the centre opening. However, a number of barriers were also identified relating to the building and the IT systems. Further work on the centre's vision; short- and long-term integration plans; workload, and sustainability were felt to be needed. Co-location of services for people experiencing homelessness in Scotland has led to improvements in staff burn-out and team climate, and service users' satisfaction over the first two years of opening. However, barriers remain and full integration requires a clearer vision and 'road map', requiring collaborative leadership and sustainable funding.

Assessment of a youth climate empowerment program: Climate READY

Abstract. This article presents an in-depth assessment of a youth, climate empowerment program, called Climate READY – Climate Resilience Education and Action for Dedicated Youth. It was developed by the Florida Atlantic University Pine Jog Environmental Education Center (FAU Pine Jog) and funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Environmental Literacy Program. The program built climate literacy and community resilience through a three-semester dual-enrollment program (financed by grant no. NOAA-SEC-OED-2020-2006190). Most student participants (∼80 %) were from Title 1 high schools in low socio-economic communities vulnerable to extreme weather and environmental hazards in Palm Beach County, Florida (see definition in Appendix A). The main objectives of this program were to increase knowledge of south Florida's changing climate systems; teach and promote environmentally responsible behavior, which results in the stewardship of healthy ecosystems and a reduction in carbon consumption to mitigate future environmental risks; and empower students to act as agents of change within the community by teaching community members about local climate impacts and resilience strategies for extreme weather events. Important characteristics of the program included the following: Students ages 15 to 17 years old registered for the Climate READY Ambassador Institute (summer semester 1) built climate knowledge, explored NOAA Science on a Sphere technology, engaged with scientists and resilience experts, developed communication and advocacy skills, and learned about local resilience solutions. At the end of the course, these students were given completion certificates and the title Climate READY Ambassadors (CRAs). An after-school mentorship (fall semester 2) component paired new Climate READY Ambassadors with fourth- and fifth-grade after-school students ages 9 to 11 years old to build community resilience awareness through four structured lessons and the creation of storybooks. Lastly, community outreach (spring semester 3) provided ways for Climate READY Ambassadors to share local resilience strategies at public events and promoted civic engagement in climate solutions. Data were collected from all students in the form of pre- and post-assessment questionnaires during the 2022–2023 academic year. Summative statistics were analyzed for climate science knowledge, self-identity, self-efficacy, and sense of place. Climate READY Ambassadors felt more prepared, confident, and able to communicate within their communities about climate change, and many demonstrated a significantly better understanding of climate science concepts. After-school students showed a better understanding of climate change and were able to identify ways to help reduce the effects of climate change. Both groups of students benefitted from the Climate READY Ambassador mentorship, demonstrating learning by doing and learning by storytelling.

Inuit uses of weather, water, ice, and climate indicators to assess travel safety in Arctic Canada, Alaska, and Greenland: a scoping review

Environmental indicators are naturally occurring variables, conditions, and events that are used to assess and monitor environmental conditions and change. Inuit throughout Inuit Nunaat (Inuit circumpolar homelands) observe and experience environmental indicators as they travel year-round for harvesting and other cultural practices. Inuit draw on their observations of current conditions and their knowledge of weather, water, ice, and climate (WWIC) indicators, when seeking to predict and understand conditions that impact safe travel. This scoping review documents the types and diversity of WWIC indicators articulated in peer-reviewed and grey literature as being used by Inuit in Canada, Alaska, and Greenland to assess travel safety. Two reviewers independently screened 512 studies using pre-determined eligibility criteria and 123 studies were included for review. A total of 163 unique WWIC indicators were used across 85 communities in Canada, Alaska, and Greenland. Indicators reflect a broad range of ways that Inuit experience their environment, through sight, feel, and sound. Indicators can be considered as causal, conditional, or predictive (or a combination thereof), where knowledge of the interactions among various indicators is especially important to support safe travel. Identified gaps and future research directions included assessing key indicators to better target development of locally relevant research and information services.

Predicting Climate Change Mitigation Behavior in Chinese Families: Effects of Metacognitive Climate Knowledge and Biospheric Values

(1) Background: Climate change mitigation behavior has become a critical area of research, particularly in understanding how family contexts influence such behaviors. However, there is limited empirical comparison of theoretical models explaining this behavior in Chinese families. (2) Purpose: This study aims to compare the effectiveness of three models—the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the Value–Identity–Personal Norm Activation Model (VIP-NAM), and an extended TPB model—in predicting climate change mitigation behavior within Chinese families. (3) Methods: Data were collected from 302 Chinese families in Zhejiang Province. Partial least squares structural equation modeling was used to perform the data analysis in this study. (4) Results: The extended TPB model, incorporating biospheric values, personal norms, and perceived behavioral control, demonstrated superior explanatory and predictive capabilities compared to the TPB and VIP-NAM models. However, metacognitive climate knowledge did not significantly moderate the intention–behavior relationship. (5) Conclusion: The findings underscore the importance of integrating values and norms into theoretical frameworks for better understanding of climate change mitigation behavior. (6) Implications: This study provides insights into designing family-centered interventions and highlights the need to address the intention–behavior gap. Future research should explore additional contextual and cultural factors influencing these behaviors in Chinese families.

Farmers’ Perception and Adaptation Strategies on Climate Change and Variability in Rice Production in Sarlahi, Nepal

A study conducted in Sarlahi, Nepal, from February to July 2024 examined farmers' perceptions of climate change and their adaptive strategies to sustain rice yields. Among the 94 surveyed households, 96.8% reported rising temperatures, while 90.4% noted reduced rainfall frequency and intensity. Additionally, most respondents (70.2%) observed decreased flooding intensity, and 90.4% reported lower water availability in tube wells, ponds, and rivers. The study revealed limited climate knowledge among farmers, with only 2.1% being well-informed; personal experience was the primary source of information for 75.5% of respondents. Farmers employed various adaptation techniques, including improved rice varieties (66%), green manuring (34%), and alternate wetting and drying (24.5%), although only a small percentage (8.5%) utilized crop insurance. Key challenges included climate-induced disease outbreaks like blast and bacterial blight, along with pests such as the rice stem borer and leaf roller. The findings indicated that gender and landholding size significantly influenced the adoption of adaptation practices, with larger landholders more likely to adapt than smaller ones. This research contributes valuable insights into the adaptive capacities of farmers facing climate change, underscoring the need for targeted policy interventions to enhance resilience in rice cultivation through comprehensive education and resource support.

Climate intervention research in the World Climate Research Programme: a perspective

The 2023 World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Open Science Conference underscored the critical need for increased climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts, along with enhanced climate knowledge and decision-making systems. This Perspective discusses climate intervention (CI) within WCRP’s research framework, emphasizing three main approaches: terrestrial carbon dioxide removal (CDR), marine CDR, and solar radiation modification (SRM). As global anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions continue to rise, CI strategies are increasingly recognized as potentially critical supplements to traditional mitigation methods. We call for WCRP to take a leadership role in CI research, highlighting the need for inclusivity and collaboration, especially with researchers from the Global South, to establish a firm scientific foundation for an equitable and comprehensive assessment of the benefits and risks of CI approaches relative to the risks of anthropogenic climate change.

Student Interest Drives Modernization of Climate Science Curriculum: Engaging with Community Partners outside the Classroom

Abstract As climate change continues to accelerate, there is a growing need for collaboration between geoscientists and community partners to cocreate equitable science-based climate solutions that align with community priorities. However, the curriculum of many geoscience Ph.D. programs focuses almost exclusively on physical science knowledge production confined to the academic sphere with little attention to usability or applications of climate information to decision-making. A consequence is that there is often little educational support to train future generations of geoscientists with the skills needed to serve as knowledge brokers and interpret climate information into the context needed for decision-making. To address this, a group of students and faculty at the University of Michigan developed a pilot course to provide hands-on experience engaging with local communities to develop climate solutions. This project involved a collaboration with the Washtenaw County Water Resources Commissioner’s Office to discuss their high-priority objectives. The inaugural project involved identifying high-priority locations in Washtenaw County for rain garden development to be used for internal planning purposes. The process of recurring communications with partners played a critical role in tailoring the project to have ongoing use for local government after the course. This project provided a student-driven bridge between climate knowledge production, climate science usability, and community engagement. This type of formal engagement with community partners provides opportunities to train the next generation of geoscientists to have the skills to engage with practitioners and decision-makers and make climate science more accessible.

The role of objective and subjective knowledge in tourists’ environmentally conscious travel decisions

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to investigate the impact of tourists’ objective and subjective knowledge on their decision to use environmental best practices in tourism. This study targets the alignment between objective and subjective knowledge to identify under-confidence and over-confidence in climate knowledge and their impact on tourism decision-making.Design/methodology/approachA survey of early climate adopters (n = 752) from a US-based travel network and European-based carbon capture provider assessed tourists’ climate change knowledge, attitudes, previous travel behavior and future intentions to engage in environmentally conscious best practices in travel. Using structural equation modeling, a model was developed to explore the impact of objective and subjective knowledge calibration on climate attitudes, past pro-environmental behaviors during travel and future intentions to include best climate practices in travel decisions.FindingsThe results of this study revealed that overconfidence diminished tourists’ climate-related attitudes. Attitudes were positively linked to past actions and future intentions for climate-friendly travel planning. Overconfidence undermined knowledge translation into action by diminishing climate attitudes. The findings of this study suggested that cognitive biases might be significant in shaping climate-conscious tourism behaviors.Originality/valueWhile objective and subjective knowledge have been extensively examined in the consumer behavior literature, more attention should be paid to these concepts in the tourism literature. This research addresses this gap in the literature and suggests that objective and subjective knowledge should be addressed separately in future research.

Machine Learning for Climate Physics and Simulations

Abstract We discuss the emerging advances and opportunities at the intersection of machine learning (ML) and climate physics, highlighting the use of ML techniques, including supervised, unsupervised, and equation discovery, to accelerate climate knowledge discoveries and simulations. We delineate two distinct yet complementary aspects: (a) ML for climate physics and (b) ML for climate simulations. Although physics-free ML-based models, such as ML-based weather forecasting, have demonstrated success when data are abundant and stationary, the physics knowledge and interpretability of ML models become crucial in the small-data/nonstationary regime to ensure generalizability. Given the absence of observations, the long-term future climate falls into the small-data regime. Therefore, ML for climate physics holds a critical role in addressing the challenges of ML for climate simulations. We emphasize the need for collaboration among climate physics, ML theory, and numerical analysis to achieve reliable ML-based models for climate applications.

Responding before responseability: the delayed realisation of climate change as discrepant discourse formation

Abstract This article situates public statements by governments and political leaders in a contingent process of building the capacity to respond to rapid climate change. How do these statements work and how do they contribute to an adequate response to this overwhelming existential problem in the future? How is this done before the capacity to respond has been achieved, and to what effect? The article outlines the stages of these pre-response responses, reconstructing the emergence of climate policy, climate law, and a global climate regime, as well as the multiple struggles and inevitable gaps along the way. I use a question-response pairing drawn from the work of Harvey Sacks to capture the asynchronicity of climate discourse, including climate knowledge and governance, and the pull factors that evolve with each preliminary response. The thickening of accountability plays a central role in this tortuous course, increasingly employing and judging governance at the same time.

Stable isotope analyses of lacustrine chitinous invertebrate remains: Analytical advances, challenges and potential

This review examines recent developments in the application of stable isotope analyses (δ18O, δ13C, δ15N, δD) to lacustrine invertebrate remains. These remains are ubiquitous in lacustrine sediments and thus provide an opportunity to measure changes in stable isotope ratios across a range of timescales and environments and allow interpretive power beyond taxonomic studies. To date they have been relatively understudied in comparison to carbonate fossils and offer both opportunities and challenges and we explore both themes in this review. This review will explore improvements to analytical instrumentation and the opportunities that this presents, it will look at a range of new studies of the modern lacustrine environment and how these studies allow a more nuanced palaeoenvironmental approach. We review recent studies that have used these advancements in understanding to help to reveal new knowledge of past climates, environments and ecology. In addition, we explore new studies that help to elucidate the role of methane-derived carbon to lacustrine food webs and the drivers behind this, including new data to estimate the contribution of methane derived carbon to an arctic lake. We conclude that major progress is currently being made in invertebrate-isotope analyses, and we expect this to continue apace.

Not one inconvenient truth, but many: emergency narratives and climate change

ABSTRACT A crisis is a decisive moment that can provide an opportunity for a change, but also reaffirm power asymmetries. This conceptual article highlights the Janus-faced character of declaring a climate emergency. More than 2,300 municipalities worldwide have done so. On the one hand, climate crisis and emergency narratives imply a disruption in which the dominant economic system is collectively challenged, enabling citizens to exercise power with others for greater sustainability. On the other hand, climate knowledge is often perceived as conclusive, paving the way for greater power over citizens and towards authoritarianism.

Environmental Literacy and Pro-Environmental Behavior of Pre-Service Science Educators: The Mediating Effect of Their Climate Change Awareness

The study investigated at how climate change awareness mediates the relationship between environmental literacy and pro-environmental behavior among pre-service science educators in the Davao region, involving a total of 305 respondents. A descriptive-correlational approach was used in a non-experimental quantitative research design. The findings revealed that pre-service science educators exhibit high levels of pro-environmental behavior, environmental literacy, and climate change awareness. This finding highlights the important role of future science educators in disseminating knowledge about climate change, as persons with higher levels of environmental literacy are more likely to engage in pro-environmental actions. Climate change awareness functioned as a partial mediator, indicating that although environmental literacy is essential, climate knowledge enhances educators' involvement in sustainable practices. The findings underscore the essential function of prospective science educators in climate advocacy, indicating that educational programs may improve environmental literacy curricula and incorporate discussions on climate change, thus preparing future teachers to motivate responsible environmental actions in their communities.

Sea Level Rise in Europe: Summary for Policymakers

Abstract. Sea level rise (SLR) is a global concern for low-lying coastal areas, including many European coasts. The European Knowledge Hub on Sea Level Rise (KH-SLR), a collaborative effort by the Joint Programming Initiatives for “Connecting Climate Knowledge for Europe” (JPI Climate) and for “Healthy and Productive Seas and Oceans” (JPI Oceans), has developed the 1st Assessment Report (SLRE1) to address the challenges posed by SLR in Europe. The report's target audience includes national and subnational bodies focused on research and policy advice for coastal management and climate adaptation, as well as European experts who contribute to shaping policy frameworks and collecting information at a pan-European scale. This report, preceded by a series of targeted surveys and workshops with researchers and stakeholders (e.g. coastal decision-makers), has synthesized the current scientific knowledge on SLR drivers, impacts, and policies at local, national, and European basin scales. It provides in-depth and basin-specific analyses on local sea level changes, compared with relevant global assessments of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). In addition, it identified critical knowledge gaps needed to support the development of actionable information. The Summary for Policymakers (SPM) distils the key findings of the SLRE1, presenting information specific to the six European basins: Mediterranean Sea, Black Sea, North Sea, Baltic Sea, Atlantic, and Arctic. The SPM highlights basin-specific trends, vulnerabilities, and potential impacts, while also orienting future requirements.​​​​​​​

Mindfulness in Action: Buddhist Environmental Activism of Earth Holder Berlin

This study explores the intersection of mindfulness practice and environmental activism within the Earth Holder Berlin (EHB) group, a part of the Order of Interbeing (O of I) inspired by Thich Nhat Hanh. EHB, established in 2020, integrates the principles of engaged Buddhism and endeavors to advance social and ecological justice through mindful actions. Using a qualitative methodology, this research employs semi-structured interviews and participant observation to investigate the experiences of EHB members. The findings demonstrate the transformative potential of Buddhism in ecological discourse, illustrating how EHB members embody epistemic entanglement, intertwining their Buddhist backgrounds with climate knowledge. This integration not only enhances personal transformation but also serves as a catalyst for social and ecological justice, enriching our understanding of engaged Buddhism in contemporary environmental movements.

Activism as education in and through the youth climate justice movement

AbstractYoung people worldwide are increasingly participating in a global movement for climate justice, yet to date, little research has examined how youth climate justice activists conceive of and experience activism as education. The present study used in‐depth, semi‐structured interviews with 16 US climate justice activists (aged 15–17) to address the research question: How do youth climate justice activists explain and experience the educative power of their activism? The results of reflective thematic analysis bring to light youths' dual roles as ‘learners of the movement’ and ‘climate justice educators’. As learners, youth described gaining awareness of climate justice directly from the movement, as well as learning a variety of skills (e.g., organising, communication, conflict resolution) through their activist engagement. Simultaneously, youth described their role as educators through a range of activities intended to raise awareness among adult and youth audiences, including educational workshops and trainings, school visits, teach‐ins, curriculum development, talk shows and interviews, creating digital resources, social media outreach and public protest (e.g., strikes, marches and demonstrations). Beyond spreading knowledge of climate in/justice, youth activists were also educators of action and social change processes—noting that learning about governmental institutions and political processes enabled them to exercise their democratic citizenship and equip and embolden other young people to do the same (e.g., via political advocacy trainings). The findings of the present study have implications for creating climate justice curricula that not only attend to the scientific and technological dimensions of the climate crisis, but also enable learners' justice‐driven action and democratic participation.

The struggle to anticipate the future: political uses, technological approaches, and moral debates on climate change

This paper explores major academic debates that address why, as our scientific understanding of climate change increases, controversies about its causes and responses multiply. To this end, this research presents a discussion of the literature on the political, technological, and social conditions that generate divergent ideas on climate change. This article is divided into three sections. First, it is argued that climate knowledge tends to be contextualized to local concerns. Second, inherent technical limitations of climate models limit a direct translation between global climate science and local policies. Third, greater knowledge could not resolve controversies on climate change since values are inevitably part of understanding and elaborating solutions. Due to the high complexity of climate change, the intellectual fragmentation of its study, and the multiplication of contradictory information, it is crucial to present a broad overview of current academic contributions to strengthen public debate and informed decision-making.

India’s Security and Climate Policy: Navigating the China Challenge

In a world rich in climate knowledge but short on climate action, it is important to understand the political reasons behind the apparent failure of states to address this planetary crisis. One underexplored dimension of this phenomenon is the impact of broader geopolitics and rivalry, in specific the ability and willingness of potential and actual security and economic rivals to leave their contention at the gates of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This article focuses on India’s multifaceted approach to its ‘China challenge’ with and outside the climate regime. While conventional scholarship focuses on the security and economic dimensions of this rivalry, this study offers a distinct perspective that examines whether this rivalry might lead to a breakdown of cooperation and an increased potential for conflict and weaponisation of seemingly disconnected issue areas. Drawing on a comprehensive triangulation of policy documents, government statements and scholarly literature, this article evaluates the domestic and international factors shaping India’s climate-related China policies, including the countries’ unique economic ambitions, development imperatives, energy needs and global climate commitments. Furthermore, the article examines Sino-Indian interactions in international arenas such as the UNFCCC and Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa (BRICS), and how these interactions influence global climate governance.

Local Climate Change Adaptation under the Lenses of Public Health: A Case Study from Porto, Portugal

Introduction: Climate change is a pressing public health issue. Urban populations, especially in coastal areas, are highly vulnerable. As climate change progresses, local adaptation becomes increasingly important. We present a case study about the inclusion of public health concerns in local climate change adaptation in Porto (Portugal). Methods: We analysed two local adaptation plans using qualitative content analysis and conducted semi-structured interviews with a purposeful sample of 6 key stakeholders with different profiles. We did a qualitative content analysis of the respective transcripts. Results: Porto is undergoing health-relevant consequences of climate change, which are expected to worsen further in the future. Porto’s geographical and demographic characteristics and urban environment make its population highly vulnerable to climate change-related health risks. Public health is recognized as a central element in local adaptation efforts. Drivers for integrating health concerns include growing climate change awareness, a sense of urgency, social capital, institutional networks, access to resources, and political commitment. Nevertheless, challenges like data limitations, resource constraints, climate knowledge gaps, communication issues, and political cycles hinder both local adaptation and the integration of health considerations. Discussion/Conclusion: In Porto, health seems both a powerful mobilizing issue and a central topic concerning local adaptation. However, the complex and long-term nature of climate change and the associated uncertainty hinder adaptation efforts. High-quality data about both the local climate and population health are thus essential. The transversal nature of risk is recognized and multi-sectorial approaches, public participation, mainstreaming, and policy integration are necessary to prevent imbalances. Local adaptation efforts, including health-related efforts, are shaped by the international (belonging to the European Union), national, and local contexts. Successful local adaptation and inclusion of health aspects require mainstreaming and policy integration across different areas and involvement of multiple stakeholders, including the population, in order to maximize resources and avoid undesired trade-offs.

Who are the green transition experts? Towards a new research agenda on climate change knowledge

AbstractExperts play a significant role in shaping global and local norms on how societies should respond to the climate crisis. However, current scholarship on the relationship between expertise and climate change has not fully addressed recent transformations in the field, specifically the emergence and increasingly influential role of what we term “green transition expertise.” We define green transition expertise as a more applied, normative, and contextual form of climate change knowledge that is contrasted with the formalized, pure science of “climate expertise.” If climate experts assess the deteriorating state of the global climate, then transition experts tell states and corporations what they should do about it. We argue that if the social science of climate change knowledge is to further deepen its grasp of the politics of the green transition analytically and normatively, it must embrace a “post‐IPCC” research agenda that turns increasingly toward studying the power of transition experts in directing state and corporate climate action. Based on a review of the literature, we contrast the extant IPCC agenda with an emerging post‐IPCC agenda along three dimensions: expert cast (who are the experts?), expert content (what do they know?) and expert context (where are they located?). By marking a shift in each of these dimensions, the post‐IPCC agenda sensitizes the social science of climate change knowledge to overlooked and increasingly powerful forms of experts and expertise. To facilitate their study, we define six specific areas that require detailed attention as the post‐IPCC agenda develops.This article is categorized under: The Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Sociology/Anthropology of Climate Knowledge Policy and Governance > National Climate Change Policy Climate, History, Society, Culture > Ideas and Knowledge