Global environmental change: local perceptions, understandings, and explanations

Abstract

Global environmental change (GEC) is an increasingly discussed phenomenon in the scientific literature as evidence of its presence and impacts continues to grow. Yet, while the documentation of GEC is becoming more readily available, local perceptions of GEC— particularly in small-scale societies—and preferences about how to deal with it, are still largely overlooked. Local knowledge and perceptions of GEC are important in that agents make decisions (including on natural resource management) based on individual perceptions. We carried out a systematic literature review that aims to provide an exhaustive state-of-the-art of the degree to and manner in which the study of local perceptions of change are being addressed in GEC research. We reviewed 126 articles found in peer-reviewed journals (between 1998 and 2014) that address local perceptions of GEC. We used three particular lenses of analysis that are known to influence local perceptions, namely (i) cognition, (ii) culture and knowledge, and (iii) possibilities for adaptation.We present our findings on the geographical distribution of the current research, the most common changes reported, perceived drivers and impacts of change, and local explanations and evaluations of change and impacts. Overall, we found the studies to be geographically biased, lacking methodological reporting, mostly theory based with little primary data, and lacking of indepth analysis of the psychological and ontological influences in perception and implications for adaptation. We provide recommendations for future GEC research and propose the development of a “meta-language” around adaptation, perception, and mediation to encourage a greater appreciation and understanding of the diversity around these phenomena across multiple scales, and improved codesign and facilitation of locally relevant adaptation and mitigation strategies.

Major shifts in Amazon wildlife populations from recent intensification of floods and drought

“…Although most responses to global environmental change are focused on the diversification of production strategies (Pyhälä et al. ), in the Samiria basin, the Cocama people have intensified fishing. In this case, people's adaptations are reflecting the shifts in animal populations, which ultimately helps maintain food and income benefits and sustainable use.…”

Views from two mountains: exploring climate change impacts on traditional farming communities of Eastern Africa highlands through participatory scenarios

“…The discrepancy may be due to inadequate cover of this area by meteorological stations. Furthermore, misperception could derive from misunderstanding of causes and effects (Hitayezu.et al 2017) and from attributing to climate change the severity of impacts influenced even by other factors, such as increased population and inadequate land management practices (Pyhälä et al 2016). In the Jimma study area, participants in our study reported higher stability of climate conditions over the last decades.…”

Resilience of small-scale societies: a view from drylands

“…Small-scale societies, including those found in drylands, are often located in rural contexts with frequent exposure to, and high dependency on, local food-production processes and related activities. As a result, members of smallscale societies have often developed robust social-ecological bonds and have a more marked temporal, spatial, and social proximity with issues related to climate change (IPCC 2012), which define the perception of and response to external stressors (Pyhälä et al 2016). Specifically, being consistently exposed to climate variability and extremes, small-scale societies in drylands have maintained a strong sense of environmental awareness that enables them to make an informed evaluation of the potential effects of local temperature rise, related hazards, and possible responses, e.g., concerning food production systems (Wildcat 2013).…”