From learning to action: What is needed to provoke societal change?
Workshop in Grindelwald to shape a new international research program "Knowledge, Learning and Societal Change" (KLSC)
35 Experts from around the world discussed from April 13 - 15 2011 in Grindelwald the science plan and potential projects of a new program to better understand the mechanisms that lead to societal change. The workshop was supported by ProClim- and the Swiss Academy of Humanities and Social Sciences. The program shall become a part of the International Human Dimensions of Global Environemental Change Program (IHDP).
Climate change is now recognized widely as a key issue for the next decades and policy makers talk bravely about a 2ºC target. At the moment any courage is lost as soon as these words must be followed by actions.
The KLSC project aims to better understand and explain the interplay between actions, knowledge and learning so that change happens and is not only talked about. What effective steps can be taken to enable mitigation and adaptation to changing conditions and help societies move in more sustainable directions? This goal can only be reached by involving a broadly based community in the project with people from the sciences, humanities, and social practice, including participation in knowledge production by those living in key affected areas.
The project will also look into the past studying drivers to change or hindering factors that prevented societies from adaption to obvious challanges.