An Introduction to Social Dimensions
of Global Environmental Change:
Why is GEC a social issue
14/3/2024
Mgr. Lenka Suchá, Ph.D.
Global Change Research Institute CAS
Why should we care about global environmental change?
Global Change Research Institute CAS
What are the major forces of global environmental change?
Good quality of life and the role of the
nature
Good quality of life
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Health and
wellbeing
Education &
knowledge
Governance
& justice
Good
relationships
Identity
Security &
livelihoods
Arts
…..…..…..
Role of environment? Nature‘s
contribution to people
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Preconditions? Functioning
ecosystems, biodiversity
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BUT…
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Land
transformation
and
degradation
Climate
change
Exploitation of
natural
resources
Pollution
Invasive
species Population growth,
economic and social
globalisation,
consumption,
energy demand…
Good quality of life depends on nature
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Good quality of life depends on nature
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TEEB Europe
Ecosystem Services
Good quality of life depends on nature
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Nature‘s
contribution
to people
Good quality of life depends on nature
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Holistic
understanding →
capturing the
diversity of
worldviews,
knowledge
systems and
stakeholders
Good quality of life depends on nature
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Researching global environmental
change – the role of social sciences
Social-ecological system and global
environmental change (SES & GEC)
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Folke et al., 2016
How to research SES &GEC?
⚫ Environment in the
core but society as the
most influential factor:
⚫ ??? How people
create and percieve
global
environmental
change???
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Social
Science
Sociology
Pol. Sci
PsychologyEconomics
Geography
⚫ Searching for
understanding the
relationship between
people and
enviornment, the
influencing factors,
and the impact of the
relationship itself
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Social
Science
Sociology
Pol. Sci
PsychologyEconomics
Geography
How to research SES & GEC?
Politics and Policy
Ecology
Communities
and society
Answer: sustainability science
⚫ Combines applied and basic research → understanding of the SES & GEC
⚫ Core topics: climate change, biodiversity loss, environmental degradation
and pollution (land, water), natural resources exploitation, invasive species
⚫ Cross-cutting discipline – qualitative and quantitative approaches,
participation, transdisciplinarity
⚫ Emphasis on stakeholder engagement, knowledge co-production, bringing
together diverse knowledge systems → bridging scientists, policy-makers,
politicians, civil society, non-governmental organisation…
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Example: social-ecological mapping
in Western province of Zambia
Example?
⚫ Aim: understanding farming
practices in the light of climate
change
⚫ Cross-cutting framework:
⚫ Nature‘s contribution to
people
⚫ Methodologies:
⚫ Social-ecological system
mapping, interviews,
participatory workshops,
survey…
⚫ Transdisciplinarity &
knowledge co-creation
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Western province of Zambia
Global Change Research Institute CAS
Global Change Research Institute CAS
What is the
role of property
rights?
To what extent
small scale farmers
do apply climate
smart agriculture
practices?
How will our
answer change
over time?
What policy
influences
farmers‘
decision?
What is the
governance
system?
What
knowledge(s)
do(es) shape
the adoption of
new practices?
Who benefits
from the
adoption of
new practices?
The role of knowledge in SES & GEC
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What
knowledge(s)
do(es) shape
the adoption of
new practices?
To what extent
small scale farmers
do apply climate
smart agriculture
practices?
The role of knowledge in SES & GEC
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Colloff et al. 2017a & 2017b
The role of knowledge in SES & GEC
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The role of knowledge in SES & GEC
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What
knowledge(s)
do(es) shape
the adoption of
new practices?
To what extent
small scale farmers
do apply climate
smart agriculture
practices?
Solution is social
Safe and just operating spaces
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Raworth 2017
Individuals
Society/system
Individual VS system solutions?
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Individual VS system solutions?
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Conclusions and learning points
⚫ Social sciences and humanities are essential for
researching and tackling GEC
⚫ We need to fully understand social-ecological
interactions and how they are shaping GEC
⚫ We cannot underestimate divers values, rules and
knowledges
⚫ Solution to GEC lies in society and in systemic change
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Thank you for your attention!
Sucha.l@czechglobe.cz
@LenkaSuch1
https://sustainablecz.org
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