Challenges to belief systems in the context of climate change adaptation

Abstract

Recent climate change is unprecedented and its effects increasingly experienced. Climate change is, however, an abstract concept and the study of the idea of climate change as social construct opens up avenues to investigate the effect of different framings of the concept. This study explores the interrelationship between belief systems and adaptation, with a specific focus on the challenges that this connection illuminates. The organisation of beliefs into a network governs its change, and therefore an understanding of belief systems is vital. Resistance to belief revision in the face of evidence also receives attention and illustrates the complexity of belief systems. The theoretical grounding of climate change is investigated, in order to draw relevant conclusions regarding its link with beliefs. Perception is indicated as a crucial connection. Applying this theory, three communities' diverse beliefs about climate change was studied using Q-methodology. Participants from townships in the North West Province in South Africa were interviewed using semi-structured interviews, and from this qualitative data a concourse was compiled. Forty statements were selected to broadly represent the topic, and this Q-sample was then presented to participants in a second phase to rank-order based on a system of agreement. These Q-sorts were analysed using PQmethod software and interpreted accordingly. Five distinct semantic patterns were found that explained 58% of the sample’s variance. The two prevalent ideas that came across in these worldview narratives were religion and collectivism. Qualitative analysis added further depth to these results and seven factors that hinder belief revision were identified: a high level of integration, social embedment, importance of belief, perception narrowed by cultural beliefs, perceived frightening consequences, negative authority beliefs, and new knowledge that is seen as threat to identity. Three factors that encourage belief revision are a perception of high controllability, positive referents in authority beliefs, and clear evidence. Purposive adaptation should ideally support autonomous adaptation, provided that it falls within a sustainable development framework. Participatory communication is recommended as a tool to climate change adaptation, as it acknowledges local cognitions, and encourages joint knowledge production. Utilised in education programmes, this tool can lead to communities creating solutions for which they truly take ownership. This will not only empower them, but also aid internal accommodation to external change, and increase the perception of controllability