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Local indicators of climate change: the potential contribution of local knowledge to climate research

Author

Listed:
  • Victoria Reyes‐García
  • Álvaro Fernández‐Llamazares
  • Maximilien Guèze
  • Ariadna Garcés
  • Miguel Mallo
  • Margarita Vila‐Gómez
  • Marina Vilaseca

Abstract

Local knowledge has been proposed as a place‐based tool to ground‐truth climate models and to narrow their geographic sensitivity. To assess the potential role of local knowledge in our quest to understand better climate change and its impacts, we first need to critically review the strengths and weaknesses of local knowledge of climate change and the potential complementarity with scientific knowledge. With this aim, we conducted a systematic, quantitative meta‐analysis of published peer‐reviewed documents reporting local indicators of climate change (including both local observations of climate change and observed impacts on the biophysical and the social systems). Overall, primary data on the topic are not abundant, the methodological development is incipient, and the geographical extent is unbalanced. On the 98 case studies documented, we recorded the mention of 746 local indicators of climate change, mostly corresponding to local observations of climate change (40%), but also to observed impacts on the physical (23%), the biological (19%), and the socioeconomic (18%) systems. Our results suggest that, even if local observations of climate change are the most frequently reported type of change, the rich and fine‐grained knowledge in relation to impacts on biophysical systems could provide more original contributions to our understanding of climate change at local scale. WIREs Clim Change 2016, 7:109–124. doi: 10.1002/wcc.374 This article is categorized under: Assessing Impacts of Climate Change > Evaluating Future Impacts of Climate Change Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Sociology/Anthropology of Climate Knowledge

Suggested Citation

  • Victoria Reyes‐García & Álvaro Fernández‐Llamazares & Maximilien Guèze & Ariadna Garcés & Miguel Mallo & Margarita Vila‐Gómez & Marina Vilaseca, 2016. "Local indicators of climate change: the potential contribution of local knowledge to climate research," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 7(1), pages 109-124, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:wirecc:v:7:y:2016:i:1:p:109-124
    DOI: 10.1002/wcc.374
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    Cited by:

    1. David García-del-Amo & P. Graham Mortyn & Victoria Reyes-García, 2020. "Including indigenous and local knowledge in climate research: an assessment of the opinion of Spanish climate change researchers," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 160(1), pages 67-88, May.
    2. Aline Nkurunziza & Dorine Intwarinkase Mutaganzwa & Willy Marcel Ndayitwayeko & Jacques Nkengurutse & Beth A. Kaplin & Irene Teixidor Toneu & Noelia Zafra-Calvo & Aida Cuni-Sanchez, 2023. "Local Observations of Climate Change and Adaptation Responses: A Case Study in the Mountain Region of Burundi-Rwanda," Land, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-14, January.
    3. Nelson Chanza & Walter Musakwa, 2022. "Indigenous local observations and experiences can give useful indicators of climate change in data-deficient regions," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 12(3), pages 534-546, September.
    4. Nicole Klenk & Anna Fiume & Katie Meehan & Cerian Gibbes, 2017. "Local knowledge in climate adaptation research: moving knowledge frameworks from extraction to co‐production," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 8(5), September.
    5. Danny Philipp Nef & Daniel Neneth & Patteson Dini & Carmenza Robledo Abad & Pius Kruetli, 2021. "How local communities attribute livelihood vulnerabilities to climate change and other causes: a case study in North Vanuatu," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 168(3), pages 1-20, October.

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