How Must I Explain to the Dolphins?

2018 ◽  
Vol 40 (4) ◽  
pp. 389-404
Author(s):  
Yvette Abrahams ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Lived Experience ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Free Choice ◽  
Climate Science ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Ethical Responsibility ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge Systems ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Traditional Manner

The story of change and growth, i.e., evolution, in the traditional manner, involves an epistemology of indigenous knowledge systems that admits both evolution and the divine—and therefore the human capacity for free choice—that tells us that fossil fuels are a bad choice. Steven Biko’s message of “Black Consciousness” responds to the dilemma of how we belong to the species that is damaging the planetary ecosystem, amd yet how we can deny complicity by saying that reclaiming our culture enables us to see what we have done, so we can refuse complicity with the system that has divided us and take responsibility for giving birth to new life. The uncertainties of climate change can be thought through using race, class, gender, sexual orientation, indigeneity, and disability as categories of analysis. The result is an understanding that through both climate science and lived experience, we can know enough to know we ought to act on climate change. We do not need more research; we need instead an acceptance of our ignorance amid a sense of ethical responsibility. This story speaks of liberation from oppression and of climate action as deeply entangled in

scholarly journals Adaptation measures to sustain indigenous practices and the use of indigenous knowledge systems to adapt to climate change in Mutoko rural district of Zimbabwe

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Shingirai S. Mugambiwa
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Climatic Variability ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Rural District ◽  
Community Members ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Crop Type ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge Systems ◽  
Type Change

This article examines adaptation measures used to sustain indigenous practices and the use of indigenous knowledge systems (IKS) to adapt to climate change in Mutoko rural district of Zimbabwe. Community-based adaptation is able to reduce the vulnerability as well as improve the resilience of the local people to climatic variability and change. Subsistence farmers have always adopted adaptive strategies to some of these changes over the years. As such, the adoption of indigenous practices will significantly help rural community members to adapt to climate change. This study employed a qualitative method and an exploratory design, and the results are derived from 30 purposively selected in-depth interviews. The study discovered that there are numerous measures used to adapt to climate change and subsequently to sustain indigenous practices. The study also found that the community no longer grows maize in large quantities, having shifted to millet and sorghum in order to adapt to climate change. The community also provided various strategies to adapt to climate change. These strategies include mulching, creating large storage houses for produce and creating temporary walls on riverbanks in order to store water when the rivers dry up. This study concludes that climate change adaptation measures employed by the community have significantly helped them to sustain their indigenous practices in many ways. Also, the use of IKS, through activities such as crop type change from maize to traditional millet and sorghum (which facilitates traditional lifestyle and activities), re-establishes the community’s indigenous practices since they are made to observe the practices of yesteryear.

Engaging publics through climate math

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 316-346 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tiara R. Na’puti ◽  
Phaedra C. Pezzullo ◽  
Leah Sprain ◽  
Lydia Reinig
Keyword(s):  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Environmental Planning ◽  
Action Plan ◽  
Climate Science ◽  
National Leader ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Climate Action Plan ◽  
Key Terms ◽  
The City

Abstract Energy democracy hopes to foster community engagement and participation in shaping our transition from fossil fuels to a renewable energy-based economy. These considerations result from critiques by environmental justice, climate justice, and just transition advocates. Although many are sympathetic to energy democracy ideals, climate goals often are articulated in math terms. This essay defines the aforementioned key terms and asks: what are the limitations and possibilities of engaging publics when climate action solely is articulated in numbers? A compelling case study is the City of Boulder – recognized as a global leader in climate science and a national leader in innovative environmental planning. This essay shares work from 2016, when the City shared a climate action plan for public feedback, supported several public participation events, and passed climate action legislation goals. We argue a just transition and energy democracy ideals are hindered if we reduce climate goals to math.

scholarly journals Australia’s 2020 summer shows our changed climate future - a public health preparedness challenge

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
L Hanna
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Climate Change ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Planetary Systems ◽  
Climate Science ◽  
Public Health Preparedness ◽  
The Public ◽  
Environmental Determinants Of Health ◽  
National Capital ◽  
Public Health Challenge

Abstract Background Humans have wandered this planet for hundreds of thousands of years, yet in the last 160 years we have dramatically disrupted planetary systems upon which we depend. Humanity has polluted the oceans, rivers, air and soils. Our persistent burning of fossil fuels to power opulent lifestyles is now perilously close to permanently disrupting global climatic systems. Problem It is clear. The problem is us. Australia's summer of horrors provides a terrifying glimpse into our collective future. This rich and exquisitely advantaged nation has voted for governments that have ignored fragile ecosystems, dismantled environmental protection laws, ignored climate science and expanded its fossil fuel exploration, extraction, consumption and exportation. It has systematically silenced science, ignored its duty of care to protect its present and future citizenry. Evidence The 2019-2020 summer brought unprecedented disasters to a country familiar with disasters. After the hottest and driest year on record came the world's largest bushfire, which started in winter, and burned uncontainable for 7 months across 5 states. Billions of animals perished, thousands of homes & businesses destroyed, 33 people burned alive. Continental-wide temperatures of 42oC. Smoke levels exceeded hazardous levels by a factor of 25, lingered 6weeks in the national capital, circumnavigated the southern hemisphere. 80% of Australians were affected by the fires in some way, and the nation fell into a deep grief. The public health challenge As the world faces new climate regimes, the associated health challenges are elevating to unheralded and unforeseen levels. Public health preparedness for past situations will inevitably fail. Events are no longer singular, short lived or readily managed. Today's events are multifaceted, expansive and protracted. Their sheer magnitude and scale prevent response activities, interrupt transport and supply chains and shut down power and communications. Key messages Unfettered human development has degraded planetary systems upon which humanity depends for survival and flourishing. Climate change is disrupting all our key environmental determinants of health. Environmental degradation and climate change now present a rapidly intensifying health emergency. Australia’s summer of disasters demonstrates we need an explosion of public health preparedness.

Comparative review of indigenous knowledge systems and modern climate science

2019 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-73
Author(s):  
Nomcebo Rhulani Ubisi ◽  
◽  
Unathi Kolanisi ◽  
Obert Jiri ◽  
◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Climate Science ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Comparative Review ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Tackling Climate Change

2020 ◽  
pp. 53-63
Author(s):  
F Stuart Chapin
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Climate Warming ◽  
Fossil Fuels ◽  
Coastal Flooding ◽  
The World ◽  
Climate Action ◽  
Dry Climates ◽  
Earth’S Climate ◽  
Nature And Society ◽  
Rising Sea Level

Rapid climate change affects both nature and society. This chapter describes actions that people can take to understand and minimize climate change. Rising concentrations of carbon dioxide from burning of fossil fuels account for about two-thirds of the energy imbalance that causes Earth’s climate to warm. People born this century will probably experience more climate warming during their lifetimes than has been seen by all of humanity since the beginning of major human civilizations. Climate warming causes increased flooding in wet climates and more frequent droughts and wildfires in dry climates. Rising sea level and more frequent intense storms contribute to more coastal flooding. Climate warming can be slowed by reducing fossil-fuel emissions and by protecting and restoring forests and wetlands. Discussions with others can increase society’s awareness of climate change. More than 9,000 communities around the world have already developed climate action plans to reduce rates of climate warming.

scholarly journals Sunshine, temperature and wind

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 22-38
Author(s):  
Dramani J.M. File ◽  
Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile
Keyword(s):  
Climate Change ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge ◽  
Climate Change Adaptation ◽  
Knowledge Systems ◽  
Endogenous Development ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Past ◽  
Vulnerability To Climate Change ◽  
Vulnerability Assessments ◽  
Indigenous Knowledge Systems

Purpose This paper aims to draw on community risk assessment (CRA) for assessing vulnerability to climate change in north-western Ghana, focusing on sunshine, temperature and wind, elements of climate which are seldom explored in vulnerability assessments to climate change. Design/methodology/approach The paper draws on data collected from a qualitative research design that used participatory rural appraisal methods, particularly, in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and seasonal calendar analysis in three selected rural communities of the Sissala East District. Furthermore, an inter-generational framework was adopted for comparative assessment of vulnerability and changes in vulnerability to climate change. Findings The results show that the current generation of smallholder farmers is more vulnerable to climate change than the past generation, the era of grandparents. Thus, farmers are exposed to higher-intensity sunshine, temperature and wind in contemporary times than was the case in the past. Consequently, their livelihoods are affected the most by the damaging effects of these climatic hazards. The CRA process revealed the relevance of indigenous knowledge systems for vulnerability assessments and at the same time, underpins the need for adaptation of such knowledge if it is to sustain smallholder farmer efforts at climate change adaptation at community levels. Practical implications The paper recommends an endogenous development approach to climate change adaptation planning (CCAP), one that will build on indigenous knowledge systems for effective community education, mobilization and participatory response to climate change. Policy interventions should aim at enhancing climate change adaptation through innovations in soil and water conservation, access to water for irrigation and domestic use, climate smart-housing architecture and agro-forestry within the framework of decentralization and district development planning. Originality/value This paper will contribute to climate change research in two ways: first, by drawing attention to the usefulness of CRA in vulnerability assessment; and second, by focusing on climate elements which are critical for CCAP but rarely given sufficient attention in vulnerability assessments.

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