Risk communication and sustainability science: lessons from the field

Lindenfeld, Laura; Smith, Hollie; Norton, Todd; Grecu, N.

doi:10.1007/s11625-013-0230-8

Cited by 34 publications

(30 citation statements)

References 55 publications

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“…The codesign, coproduction of knowledge, and coimplementation of practices imply the integration of multiple stakeholders' beliefs, perceptions, and interests, yet these are often conflicting (Stringer et al 2006, Lindenfeld et al 2014, Martín-López and Montes 2015. For example, the integration of indigenous, local, and ecological knowledge into the scientific process has been recognized recently as a crucial feature of understanding diverse SESs, but is also one of the key challenges facing PBSESR (Ifejika Speranza et al 2010, Bohensky and Maru 2011, Tengö et al 2014.…”

Section: Accelerating Progress Toward Inter-and Transdisciplinary Intmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key features for more successful place-based sustainability research on social-ecological systems: a Programme on Ecosystem Change and Society (PECS) perspective

Balvanera¹,

Daw²,

Gardner³

et al. 2017

E&S

103

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ABSTRACT. The emerging discipline of sustainability science is focused explicitly on the dynamic interactions between nature and society and is committed to research that spans multiple scales and can support transitions toward greater sustainability. Because a growing body of place-based social-ecological sustainability research (PBSESR) has emerged in recent decades, there is a growing need to understand better how to maximize the effectiveness of this work. The Programme on Ecosystem Change and Society (PECS) provides a unique opportunity for synthesizing insights gained from this research community on key features that may contribute to the relative success of PBSESR. We surveyed the leaders of PECS-affiliated projects using a combination of open, closed, and semistructured questions to identify which features of a research project are perceived to contribute to successful research design and implementation. We assessed six types of research features: problem orientation, research team, and contextual, conceptual, methodological, and evaluative features. We examined the desirable and undesirable aspects of each feature, the enabling factors and obstacles associated with project implementation, and asked respondents to assess the performance of their own projects in relation to these features. Responses were obtained from 25 projects working in 42 social-ecological study cases within 25 countries. Factors that contribute to the overall success of PBSESR included: explicitly addressing integrated social-ecological systems; a focus on solutionand transformation-oriented research; adaptation of studies to their local context; trusted, long-term, and frequent engagement with stakeholders and partners; and an early definition of the purpose and scope of research. Factors that hindered the success of PBSESR included: the complexities inherent to social-ecological systems, the imposition of particular epistemologies and methods on the wider research group, the need for long periods of time to initiate and conduct this kind of research, and power asymmetries both within the research team and among stakeholders. In the self-assessment exercise, performance relating to team and context-related features was ranked higher than performance relating to methodological, evaluation, and problem orientation features. We discuss how these insights are relevant for balancing place-based and global perspectives in sustainability science, fostering more rapid progress toward inter-and transdisciplinary integration, redefining and measuring the success of PBSESR, and facing the challenges of academic and research funding institutions. These results highlight the valuable opportunity that the PECS community provides in helping build a community of practice for PBSESR.

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Section: Accelerating Progress Toward Inter-and Transdisciplinary Intmentioning

confidence: 99%

Key features for more successful place-based sustainability research on social-ecological systems: a Programme on Ecosystem Change and Society (PECS) perspective

Balvanera¹,

Daw²,

Gardner³

et al. 2017

E&S

103

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…In this sense, sustainability science is thought as neither 'basic' nor 'applied'; but as 'useable' and 'actionable' science (Clark 2007;Lindenfeld et al 2014). In fact, sustainability science academic forums have recognized that science should be used to improve environmental decision-making and, in doing so, scientists should reframe how they can collaborate with other stakeholders in the different stages of knowledge generation (Kauffman 2009;Land et al 2012;Shirk et al 2012;Lindenfeld et al 2014). If sustainability science aims to advance knowledge for solving environmental and biodiversity problems, we should remember that problems have been (and are being) socially created (Mascia et al 2003).…”

Section: Designing a Governance System: The Acknowledgement Of Institmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…If sustainability science aims to advance knowledge for solving environmental and biodiversity problems, we should remember that problems have been (and are being) socially created (Mascia et al 2003). Consequently, biodiversity conservation problems can only be tackled when the knowledgeconstruction process integrates diverse (often conflicting) stakeholders' beliefs, values and perceptions and, therefore, when researchers recognize the necessity to converge scientists, decision-makers and local stakeholders' rationalities (Stringer et al 2006;Lindenfeld et al 2014). We should acknowledge that the era of experts is over and that community-based, interactive or participatory approaches are needed in science as a way of engaging people in knowledge-construction processes and empowering people in decision-making processes (see previous section).…”

Section: Designing a Governance System: The Acknowledgement Of Institmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Although, the importance of such cooperation has previously acknowledged in sustainability science (e.g., Komiyama and Takeuchi 2006;Land et al 2012;Lindenfeld et al 2014) and in biodiversity Sustain Sci conservation communities (e.g., Turnhout et al 2012;Sutherland et al 2013;Tëngo et al 2014), it has rarely operationalized. Nowadays, there is an opportunity to further explore mechanisms for integrating different knowledge-systems in the context of Future Earth (http://www.…”

Section: Designing a Governance System: The Acknowledgement Of Institmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Restoring the human capacity for conserving biodiversity: a social–ecological approach

Martín‐López

Montes

2014

Sustain Sci

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Achieving biodiversity targets will require acknowledging that human societies are highly interconnected with the biophysical life-support system, conforming social-ecological systems. Under the social-ecological systems framework, we recognize that human wellbeing depends, in part, upon ecosystems; additionally, biodiversity conservation depends on human behavior and governance. Precisely, under the social-ecological systems paradigm, three conservation challenges emerge: (1) to recognize the value pluralism of biodiversity in science and decision-making, (2) to acknowledge that social-ecological systems require institutional diversity to be managed effectively, and (3) to go beyond scientific disciplines towards a real transdisciplinary science. In this context, sustainability science emerges as the body of knowledge able to understand the complex interactions of social-ecological systems. Consequently, we argue that the current challenge of biodiversity conservation needs to be addressed through the operationalization of sustainability science along the three lines above.

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“…In turn, societal capacity for anticipating uncertainty can be increased for future planning (Lindenfeld, Smith, Norton, & Grecu, 2014;van der Linden, Maibach, & Leiserowitz, 2015). Communicating risks associated with future climate extremes and adaptation motivates the public to change behavior and support climate planning goals (Moser, 2014;Wolf & Moser, 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk Communication and Climate Justice Planning: A Case of Michigan’s Huron River Watershed

Cheng

Tsai

Yang

et al. 2017

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Communicating climate risks is crucial when engaging the public to support climate action planning and addressing climate justice. How does evidence-based communication influence local residents' risk perception and potential behavior change in support of climate planning? Built upon our previous study of Climate Justice maps illustrating high scores of both social and ecological vulnerability in Michigan's Huron River watershed, USA, a quasi-experiment was conducted to examine the effects of Climate Justice mapping intervention on residents' perceptions and preparedness for climate change associated hazards in Michigan. Two groups were compared: residents in Climate Justice areas with high social and ecological vulnerability scores in the watershed (n = 76) and residents in comparison areas in Michigan (n = 69). Measurements for risk perception include perceived exposure, sensitivity, and adaptability to hazards. Results indicate that risk information has a significant effect on perceived sensitivity and level of preparedness for future climate extremes among participants living in Climate Justice areas. Findings highlight the value of integrating scientific risk assessment information in risk communication to align calculated and perceived risks. This study suggests effective risk communication can influence local support of climate action plans and implementation of strategies that address climate justice and achieve social sustainability in local communities.

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Risk communication and sustainability science: lessons from the field

Cited by 34 publications

References 55 publications

Key features for more successful place-based sustainability research on social-ecological systems: a Programme on Ecosystem Change and Society (PECS) perspective

Key features for more successful place-based sustainability research on social-ecological systems: a Programme on Ecosystem Change and Society (PECS) perspective

Restoring the human capacity for conserving biodiversity: a social–ecological approach

Risk Communication and Climate Justice Planning: A Case of Michigan’s Huron River Watershed

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