Whose knowledge counts in climate adaptation?

A new paper involving Sea Change Australia lead Professor Gretta Pecl AM highlights growing recognition of Indigenous Knowledges and Indigenous leadership within the IPCC – the world’s leading climate science assessment process. Indigenous peoples have observed and adapted to environmental change for thousands of generations, yet these voices have often been underrepresented in global climate assessments. The paper describes a significant shift, with Indigenous Knowledges and Indigenous Peoples now receiving much greater consideration in the IPCC’s Seventh Assessment process. Indigenous Knowledge holders from 43 traditional Countries across Australia shared observations of changing seasons, species, water systems and ecosystems, along with insights on monitoring, adaptation and resilience.

For Australia’s seafood sector, adapting to climate change means drawing on the best available knowledge from many sources – including Indigenous Knowledges, local observations, industry experience, and scientific research. Understanding change starts with listening, learning, and bringing together diverse ways of knowing, from Sea Country to science.

Climate adaptation is stronger when more voices are heard.

Full article here: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/11771801261458366