Meaning in the face of changing climate risks: connecting agency, sensemaking
This paper contributes to the body of knowledge associated with the analysis of
transdisciplinary research. We use a narrative centered approach, focusing on hybridity,
sensemaking and the potential for transdisciplinary research to foster agency.
When confronted with changes, people – as individuals – and local communities – as groups
– make sense of them in the light of their own knowledge, beliefs and experiences. The
process by which communities make sense of changing institutional and natural
environments can be defined as the interaction between their own frame of reference and
the perception of the situational demands inherent to changes, together with their
interpretation of these changes. Such a dynamic process of sensemaking constantly
redefines the boundaries of the narratives that community members can call on to give
meaning to their past, present and future. In this paper we use five case studies to analyze
how this sensemaking plays out in situations of changing climate risk and changing frames of
reference associated with the presence of trans-disciplinary scientists. We identify the
central challenge of ambiguity. We define ambiguity as situations where narratives of
change assign different meanings to the changes observed. In such situations, we observe
three potential outcomes in our case studies: (1) communities appear to be forced into
inaction – as a consequence of agency-depriving senselessness; (2) communities appear to
be cornered into maladaptation – as a consequence of a misguided sense of agency; and (3)
communities try to resolve ambiguity and effectively move forward – as knowledge-based
agency-fostering exercise. In light of these results, we argue that by contributing to the
clarification of such ambiguities, climate science may contribute to increases in local agency,
thus enhancing adaptive capacities. We conclude by proposing that climate science be placebased
and community–centered. The purpose of such a shift would be aimed at building the
agency-enhancing sensemaking of local communities.
Auteur(s) : Jean-Paul Vanderlinden, Juan Baztan, Omer Chouinard, Mateo Cordier,
Année de publication : 2020
Revue : Climate Risk Management
Type : Article
Mise en ligne par : THIAW Diatou