Special Session (S84)
Navigating climate transitions: main challenges to communities towards sustainability
Hélder Silva Lopes*, Lab2PT – Landscape, Heritage and Territory Laboratory/Department of Geography /ICS, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal; IdRA – Climatology Group/ Department of Geography/FGH, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain/ Composing Worlds Network, Fernando Pessoa Fundation, Porto, Portugal, helderlopes@geografia.uminho.pt
Paula C. Remoaldo, Lab2PT - Landscape, Heritage and Territory Laboratory, Department of Geography /ICS, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal, premoaldo@geografia.uminho.pt
Vítor P. Ribeiro, Lab2PT – Landscape, Heritage and Territory Laboratory/CIPAF, Department of Geography /ICS, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal; ESE de Paula Frassinetti, Porto, Portugal, vitor.geografia@gmail.com
José Cadima Ribeiro, NIPE – Centre for Research in Economics and Management and Lab2PT - Landscape, Heritage and Territory Laboratory, School of Economics and Management, Braga, Portugal, jcadimaribeiro0@gmail.com
Javier Martín-Vide, IdRA – Climatology Group/ Department of Geography/FGH, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain, jmartinvide@ub.edu
*Corresponding convener
Abstract
In face of the unprecedented challenges posed by
climate change, the urgency to address its impacts has never been more crucial.
Recognizing the multifaceted nature of climate change, this special session
aims to shed light on the intricate dynamics within vulnerable communities
during climate transitions, with a particular focus on landscape and regional
development. By intertwining the discourse of climate change with social
justice and sustainability, the session attempts to uncover meaningful results,
paving the way for a more inclusive and sustainable future.
The European Union's ambitious commitment on turning
Europe the first climate-neutral continent underscores the global recognition
of the need for a paradigm shift towards sustainability. Central to this
commitment is the concept of a "just transition for all", emphasizing
social inclusion and leaving no one behind. However, as time passes by, the
visions of justice for vulnerable communities are often eclipsed in the broader
global discourse on climate transitions.
Vulnerable communities bear a disproportionate burden
of the impacts of climate transitions. Not only do these transitions affect
their livelihoods, but they also exacerbate existing social exposures.
Public discourses on climate transitions predominantly
echo the voices of global organizations, supranational institutions, and
national governments. The visions of justice for vulnerable communities seldom
find representation or understanding in these discourses. This misalignment
emphasizes the necessity of a place-based perspective to inform policymaking,
ensuring that the unique contexts of specific vulnerable groups are considered.
The session seeks to unpack the “best practices” of
inclusion of communities in climate change policies, emphasizing the need for
holistic and sustainable approaches based on citizen science. By delving into
the critical questions posed, we aim to generate comprehensions that inform
transdisciplinary research, foster social and territorial cohesion, and shape public
policies that empower and sustain vulnerable communities.
Theoretical and empirical backgrounds are appreciated.
The primary research areas of this Special Session include, but are not limited
to, advances in the following topics.
1. Conceptualization of Marginalized and
Vulnerable Communities to Climate Change.
2. Main present challenges of Climate Change and
its impacts on population.
3. Inclusion in Social Transition Processes.
4. Consequences of Climate Transitions for
Vulnerable Communities.
5. Engagement and Empowerment of Vulnerable
Populations to Mitigate Climate Transitions.
6. Best Practices for Inclusion in Climate Change
Policies.
7. Support Measures Implemented by Regional and
Local Governments to Assist Communities during Climate Transition Processes.
8. Public Discourses on Climate Transitions.
9. Geographic Information Systems (GIS)
Applications in Climate Change Research and Planning.
10. Other Technology Applications in Climate
Change Research and Planning.
11. Transdisciplinary research on Climate
Transition Processes.
12. Community Involvement in Nature-Based
Solutions and Participatory Methods.
13. Main future challenges of Climate Change and
its impacts on population.
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