Placing diverse knowledge systems at the core of transformative climate research

Background

Effective solutions-oriented research values both the process and the outcomes, recognizing that genuine partnerships across knowledge systems emerge within broader political shifts. Yet, international environmental organizations often exclude non-Western knowledge from their frameworks, reinforcing epistemic injustices that mirror social and political inequalities. Transformative change in addressing the climate crisis demands a critical examination of how knowledge and power interact, ensuring the integration—not marginalization—of diverse perspectives.

Goals and Methods

This paper examines how knowledge systems are defined, explores the social and political inequalities that marginalize certain systems, and analyzes the positions institutions take on knowledge systems in climate research and action. The goal is to outline concrete, accountable steps for building genuine partnerships and provide tools for ensuring just collaboration across knowledge systems to drive transformative change. The authors synthesize major reports from organizations such as the IPCC and UNFCCC, assessing how they conceptualize diverse knowledge systems and the principles they establish for their recognition.

Conclusions and Takeaways

The paper concludes that transformative change in climate research requires a shift from treating climate change as a technical problem to recognizing it as a symptom of colonial history. It emphasizes the necessity of genuine partnerships across diverse knowledge systems, especially those of Indigenous Peoples and local communities, to foster a decolonial transformation. The paper advocates for the full implementation of instruments based on consent, intellectual and cultural autonomy, and justice to ensure just collaboration across knowledge systems. A key takeaway is that epistemic justice is inseparable from social and political justice and addressing the climate crisis necessitates close attention to the interactions between knowledge and power. The authors stress that merely calling for pluralism in research is insufficient without concrete governance mechanisms that guarantee respect for the cultures, worldviews, goals, and rights of Indigenous Peoples and local communities.