Integrating local expertise in climate studies

It is often said that local communities do not understand how climate change or environmental realities affect them. But this notion is far from true. The real issue is the disconnect – inadequate investment in local human capital, disrupted livelihoods, and the lack of proper resilience approaches to support frontline and coastal communities to thrive, especially where government support is limited or non-existent. We become so fixated on our own definitions of what the adverse impacts of climate change or environmental degradation should look like at their level, and the solutions we invent, that we forget this: 🍃 Local, rural, and indigenous communities who live these realities daily have a major role to play in how we define and create solutions to achieve Goal 14 and other Sustainable Development Goals. Communities may not describe how climate change affects them in our scientific terms, but here’s what I have discovered over the past five years, mobilising communities for climate and policy action: 💡Communities often describe how climate and environmental changes affect them better than we assume. 💡They build resilience even where education or technological aids are limited or non-existent. 💡Backing local knowledge with technology protects traditional wisdom while creating innovative solutions that merge tradition and modern technology for climate and ocean challenges. 💡 Lastly, co-designing solutions with communities is key to sustaining and scaling impact. This ensures policies are deeply rooted to serve not just minorities, but the majority, particularly those in the informal sector with no social security, who depend on natural resources for their livelihoods. Whether you are an environmentalist or not, keep this in mind: 🍃 It is not enough for our solutions, policies, or innovations to serve minorities. True impact lies in ensuring they serve the majority, enabling people to live with dignity. And one way to achieve this is through: 💡Inclusion: ensuring communities have a seat at the table; and 💡 Integration: ensuring their wisdom, practices, and priorities shape the table itself. I hope this helps #abimbolaabikoye #communityresilience #frontlinevoices #sustainability #UNSDGs

Friday food for thought – the Climate Week edition: *** old news alert ***: businesses worldwide depend on nature—yet they're still flying blind. This status quo is no longer excusable and its our job at Nature Tech Collective to shine a light on the solutions, pathways, and best practices to move us towards nature positivity. The World Economic Forum estimates that over half of global GDP is moderately or highly dependent on ecosystem services. That's a staggering $44 trillion at risk. Unfortunately, We still lack comprehensive data on biodiversity and ecosystem health. This isn't just an academic issue—it's a trillion-dollar blind spot for companies and investors. Consider this: 68% of companies in the S&P Global Broad Market Index have high dependency on ecosystem services like water provision and flood control . For the S&P Global 1200, it's even higher at 85% (S&P Global). Yet most of these companies can't accurately assess their nature-related risks or opportunities. The stakes are high. The report estimates that S&P Global 1200 companies used 22 million hectares of land in 2021, degrading ecosystem integrity equivalent to 2.2 million hectares of pristine rainforest. Without proper data, companies can't manage these impacts or dependencies effectively. Enter nature tech—a growing sector focused on leveraging technology to measure, monitor, and manage biodiversity. Community-driven initiatives are at the forefront, filling critical data gaps: 1. Local knowledge integration: Indigenous and local communities often possess deep understanding of local ecosystems. Nature tech platforms are tapping into this knowledge, combining it with satellite data and AI for more comprehensive insights. Regen Network Development PBC Rainforest Foundation US 2. Citizen science: Apps enabling everyday people to record species sightings are creating vast, real-time biodiversity databases. This crowdsourced approach complements traditional scientific surveys. Mozaic Earth, Terraspect BirdLife International Low-cost sensors: Affordable, networked sensors are allowing for continuous monitoring of ecosystems, from soil health to wildlife movements. Community-deployed sensor networks provide granular data at scale. Soil in Formation, PBC Rainforest Connection (RFCx) Blockchain for transparency: Decentralized ledger technology is being used to create tamper-proof records of biodiversity data, enhancing trust and traceability in nature-based projects. Devonian Systems, GainForest.Earth The HBAR Foundation The biodiversity data gap is a trillion-dollar problem. But it's also a trillion-dollar opportunity for nature tech innovators and investors who recognize the value of community-driven solutions. As we bridge this gap, we're not just protecting nature—we're safeguarding the very foundation of our global economy.

Meet the Researchers Pioneering Spanish Climate Solutions How climate change is reshaping science and society across Spain. 🔸 Ignacio Lorite (Agricultural Engineer, IFAPA, Córdoba) Focused on olive cultivation under climate stress, Lorite combines field trials, lab research, and farmer outreach. He studies how traditional olive groves respond to drought and high heat, while helping identify future-suitable varieties and regions for cultivation — even extending to France and Belgium. 🔸 Cati Torres (Ecological Economist, University of the Balearic Islands) Challenges conventional economic growth models by integrating ecological limits. Torres critiques overtourism in Mallorca and argues that climate change must be addressed not just with technology, but by rethinking the socio-economic metabolism that fuels overconsumption and inequality. 🔸 Joaquim Garrabou (Marine Biologist, Institute of Marine Science, Barcelona) Witnessed firsthand the mass die-offs of marine life due to warming seas. He now advocates for better-managed Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and adaptive conservation policies. Garrabou emphasizes that marine climate impacts are local and immediate — not just distant or future phenomena. 🔸 Victoria Reyes-García (Anthropologist, ICTA-UAB) Bridges climate science and Indigenous/local knowledge. Through the LICCI project, she documents how communities perceive and respond to climate impacts. She also reflects on academia’s own carbon footprint, calling for more sustainable research practices. Each of these voices reminds us that climate solutions must be interdisciplinary, place-based, and socially inclusive — rooted in local realities and knowledge systems.

🌍 #YouthDay2025# | Locally-Led Youth Action for Climate Resilience and Sustainable Development 🌱 Across Africa, young people are demonstrating that climate action is not just about the future it’s about the present. From Benin to Kenya, they are revitalising traditional knowledge systems, co-creating innovative solutions, and leading community-based approaches towards more resilient, inclusive, and sustainable development outcomes. 💡 Through the Knowledge-into-Action (#K2A) projects, supported by Climate and Development Knowledge Network, we’re seeing how local youth leadership is transforming global commitments into tangible change: ✨ In Cameroon, Grand Slam National - Cameroun has empowered over 800 young cultural practitioners to integrate slam poetry, indigenous knowledge systems, and climate science to challenge social norms, generate green livelihood opportunities, and strengthen community resilience through culturally-grounded approaches. ✨ In Kenya, Nature and People as One - NAPO ’s Conservation Cup demonstrates how community-based environmental programming through sport creates scalable impact, with 578 youth including girls who are experiencing marginalisation from pastoralist communities leading ecosystem restoration and building social capital across communities. ✨ In Mozambique, Fundação Micaia is mobilising young learners in Chimoio to implement school-based food security interventions whilst women entrepreneurs develop and distribute improved cookstove technologies, creating integrated solutions for health, environment, and economic empowerment. ✨ In South Sudan, Youth Empowerment and Development Aid (YEDA) is leading participatory mapping initiatives that combine indigenous flood knowledge with digital technologies to strengthen community-based disaster risk reduction and early warning systems. ✨ In Benin , ONG survie de la mere et de l'enfant. is engaging young leaders alongside elders, spiritual leaders, and scientists to integrate traditional ecological wisdom into ecosystem governance and biodiversity protection. These locally-led initiatives demonstrate that when youth are supported as primary implementers, knowledge co-producers, and institutional innovators, they generate solutions that are both culturally appropriate and responsive to current climate realities. 💬 On this Youth Day, let’s amplify evidence-based youth leadership, invest in adaptive programming approaches, and scale locally-led solutions not just for the Sustainable Development Goals, but for transformative development outcomes. SouthSouthNorth Lisa McNamara Fatema Rajabali Diana Sousa Leitoro Adrian Kevin Stanley mburu Amanda Snowy Siphokazi April Arnaud Baana Enono Georgina Cundill Kemp Milagre Nuvunga #YouthDay2025 #LocallyLedAdaptation #ClimateResilience #SDGs #ClimateJustice #IndigenousKnowledge #AfricaClimateAction #CDKN #KnowledgeIntoAction #SSN 

Can we leverage indigenous knowledge amid climate change disasters? The article explores the integration of indigenous knowledge with modern climate data for proactive disaster risk reduction. It highlights challenges like accuracy and lead time in indigenous systems but emphasises their local relevance. Proposing triangulation with contemporary data, it advocates for collaborative approaches to enhance effectiveness in climate information frameworks.

Essence of having indigenous people on research teams in the context of climate adaptation; The core issue in climate adaptation research is how to effectively help communities cope with #climate variability. Unfortunately, many climate #adaptation plans overlook the needs of these #communities, which leads to strategies that fail to address their real concerns. Although institutions and agencies may create well-intentioned plans, they sometimes miss the mark as they often lack a connection to the lived experiences of the people affected. Communities are on the front lines of the climate crisis and often have their own traditional methods for adaptation. This local knowledge, accumulated over years of interacting with their environment and practicing traditional agriculture, can provide valuable insights that, if integrated into modern #research, could lead to significant breakthroughs. #Africa's vast cultural #diversity means that climate adaptation plans cannot be one-size-fits-all. In countries like Nigeria, different ethnic groups with varied religions and practices will require tailored adaptation strategies that incorporate their unique indigenous knowledge across respective communties. This can never be a lazy job. In 2024, it is unacceptable to treat Africa as a monolithic entity in climate adaptation efforts. Unfortunately, many African governments still neglect investment in local research, which contributes to lack of progress we've had in recent times. Additionally, the influx of research funding from developed countries can create disparities and reinforce existing issues in our research landscape. As my mentor says, "We cannot AI our way out of our dysfunctional system." Our governments need to step up! It has become paramount to revisit and rethink how to genuinely incorporate community perspectives into national and state climate adaptation policies. Indigenous knowledge offers a vast understanding of climate challenges and solutions. Indigenous people, particularly those who are deeply connected to their communities, should lead community-based research. Ultimately, greater inclusivity in #research will ensure that climate adaptation strategies address the real needs of communities and are #effective in supporting those they intend to help. Picture Credit : CEGA2017

Why Local Knowledge is the Key to Global Sustainability ? The real power to address climate change lies in our local communities. Too often, global climate solutions overlook the unique needs and strengths of local environments and traditional wisdom. When we embrace local knowledge whether it’s indigenous practices, community-driven agriculture, or sustainable architecture, we unlock innovative solutions that are tailored to our environments. It's time to shift the narrative: Sustainability is not one-size-fits-all, it’s personal, it’s cultural, and it’s contextual. Indigenous practices hold valuable insights into soil health, water conservation, and ecosystem restoration. Community action can be the most effective way to drive large-scale change. Let’s rethink our approach to climate resilience. True sustainability starts when we listen to, learn from, and empower the communities on the ground. #LocalKnowledge #Sustainability #CommunityLedChange #ClimateResilience #Empowerment #EcoInnovation