Enhanced knowledge systems are critical for climate change adaptation

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Climate adaptation knowledge is currently predominantly focused on weather and seasonal timescales, is dominated by climate warnings, and rarely extends to adaptation information. As climate change progresses, greater integration across timescales will be needed to prepare for novel climate risks. Integration of knowledge across institutions, knowledge domains, and geographic scales is equally necessary. Though the policy mandate for the generation and dissemination of climate information typically resides with government agencies, their efforts can be supported by intermediaries who are often better placed to bridge the different knowledge domains, and to work with at-risk communities. Developing the capacity of these intermediaries, and embedding them in the broader knowledge system is key, as they can also help to tailor adaptation information for different sectors (e.g., agriculture, forestry) and social groups to ensure that knowledge reaches those who might otherwise be excluded. The use of mobile technology offers further opportunities for improving people’s access to timely, usable and locale-specific climate and adaptation information, particularly in rural areas where access is frequently limited.

ASSAR’s focus on knowledge systems

ASSAR hypothesised that “knowledge”, and the “knowledge system” within which knowledge is generated, exchanged, used, tested and updated (see Box 1) is a key enabler for adaptation. Our research aimed: (i) to document the knowledge resources relating to climate change adaptation that were available to communities in semi-arid areas, and how their access and use was socially differentiated; and (ii) to understand governance arrangements that act as barriers or enablers for the generation and transfer of climate adaptation knowledge.

Box 1: A climate adaptation knowledge system is an organised structure and dynamic process that (a) generates and represents content, components, classes, or types of knowledge that are (b) relevant, reliable and useful to those vulnerable, and needing to adapt to, climate risks. These knowledge systems are (c) reinforced by a set of logical relationships that connect the content of knowledge to its value (utility), and are (d) enhanced by a set of iterative processes that enable evolution, revision, adaptation, and advance (modified from the Global System for Sustainable Development, accessed 2018).

We worked across scales, from our local case study sites to regional and national climate service systems, to assess the state of climate adaptation knowledge systems for semi-arid communities. While many previous assessments of climate knowledge have focused on weather and seasonal climate information, we also evaluated the state of knowledge on longer timescales relevant to climate change, and the knowledge that is available for adaptation.

Key insights

Climate information needs a longer-term focus, and to include adaptation solutions

At national levels, most of the effort to produce climate information is placed on weather and seasonal climate forecasting and advisories. Far less effort is placed on generating and using longer-term climate information that can inform strategic planning. This means that local planning is undertaken without consideration for how climate change may impact on different development options and priorities. Knowledge on adaptation – how to respond to forecasted risks – is even less mature and accessible than climate risk information. This can hamper the ability to respond to weather and climate forecasts and projections.

Generating relevant, usable and reliable knowledge requires collaboration across institutions, knowledge domains, and geographic scales

The multi-faceted and multi-scale nature of climate adaptation knowledge systems means that inter-organisational collaboration, and the enabling of governance arrangements, are critical in determining what information is generated, how it is communicated and used, and how its relevance, usability and reliability are perceived by vulnerable communities.

Access and use of climate adaptation knowledge is often socially differentiated

Access to climate services and adaptation information can be affected by gender and other dimensions of social difference. Local intermediaries who understand these differences can help to tailor information services and build local capacities, to reach those who might otherwise be excluded.

Mobile technology offers new opportunities for dissemination and collaboration

Mobile technology can be used to improve farmer access to locale-specific climate and adaptation information. Ensuring that advisory systems are demand-driven and based on farmer needs is vital, as is ensuring that the costs of accessing this information are not prohibitive.

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