Research to Confront Climate Change Complexity: Intersectionality, Integration, and Innovative Governance

Katharine J. Mach, Kripa Jagannathan, Linda Shi, Lynée L. Turek-Hankins, Jeffrey R. Arnold, Christa Brelsford, Alejandro N. Flores, Jing Gao, Carlos E. Martín, David L. McCollum, Richard Moss, Jennifer Niemann, Brenda Rashleigh, Patrick M. Reed

Research output: Contribution to journalComment/debate

Abstract

Climate impacts increasingly unfold in interlinked systems of people, nature, and infrastructure. The cascading consequences are revealing sometimes surprising connections across sectors and regions, and prospects for climate responses also depend on complex, difficult-to-understand interactions. In this commentary, we build on the innovations of the United States Fifth National Climate Assessment to suggest a framework for understanding and responding to complex climate challenges. This approach involves: (a) integration of disciplines and expertise to understand how intersectionality shapes complex climate impacts and the wide-ranging effects of climate responses, (b) collaborations among diverse knowledge holders to improve responses and better encompass intersectionality, and (c) sustained experimentation with and learning about governance approaches capable of handling the complexity of climate change. Together, these three pillars underscore that usability of climate-relevant knowledge requires transdisciplinary coordination of research and practice. We outline actionable steps for climate research to incorporate intersectionality, integration, and innovative governance, as is increasingly necessary for confronting climate complexity and sustaining equitable, ideally vibrant climate futures.

Original languageEnglish
Article numbere2023EF004392
JournalEarth's Future
Volume12
Issue number6
DOIs
StatePublished - Jun 2024

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