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A critical political ecology of human dimensions of climate change: Epistemology, ontology, and ethics
Author(s) -
Goldman Mara J.,
Turner Matthew D.,
Daly Meaghan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
wiley interdisciplinary reviews: climate change
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.678
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1757-7799
pISSN - 1757-7780
DOI - 10.1002/wcc.526
Subject(s) - scrutiny , ontology , climate change , politics , sociology , epistemology , critical theory , environmental ethics , political economy of climate change , adaptation (eye) , social science , ecology , political science , psychology , philosophy , law , biology , neuroscience
To understand the broader epistemological and ontological politics of human dimensions of climate change, this review adopts a political ecology approach, informed by Science and Technology Studies concepts and research on multiple ontologies. We are particularly interested in assessing critical approaches to climate change knowledge as related to adaptation policies. The review addresses three specific areas where more critical engagement could help move debates about knowledge politics in human dimensions research forward in fruitful ways: first, discourse and a focus on the language used to talk about and reflect on human dimensions of climate change; second, co‐production and the troubling proliferation of depoliticized “instrumental” co‐productions of knowledge for adaptation; and third, the emerging literature on multiple ontologies exposing multiple enactments of climate change processes. We review each of these areas of literature, highlighting where more direct engagement with epistemological, ontological, and ethical questions is underway. In doing so, we subject the knowledge and practices that underlie dominant understandings of climate change to critical political ecology scrutiny. This article is categorized under: Social Status of Climate Change Knowledge > Sociology/Anthropology of Climate Knowledge