Skip to main content

LUP Student Papers

LUND UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES

“If the earth is a body, den a dam is a blood, watch wa gowin’ awn” The relationship between embodied knowledges of space and perceptions on climate change adaptation in St. Croix

Henry, Chaprece LU and Klein, Beatrice (2022) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science) MESM02 20221
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
As climate change adaptation becomes more mainstreamed, there has been an increasing focus on incorporating local knowledge to ensure equitable adaptation pathways. However, adaptation discourses prioritize scientific understandings of climate change, ignoring epistemological differences in knowing climate change. Interventions treat space as inert and fail to consider how spatial relationships constitute valid ways of knowing. By approaching adaptation as a spatial phenomenon, we challenge the current politics of knowledge around adaptation. We apply a relational ontological approach, conducting phenomenological study of residents in West St. Croix to unpack knowledge-making practices. We reveal that embodied mapping shapes understanding... (More)
As climate change adaptation becomes more mainstreamed, there has been an increasing focus on incorporating local knowledge to ensure equitable adaptation pathways. However, adaptation discourses prioritize scientific understandings of climate change, ignoring epistemological differences in knowing climate change. Interventions treat space as inert and fail to consider how spatial relationships constitute valid ways of knowing. By approaching adaptation as a spatial phenomenon, we challenge the current politics of knowledge around adaptation. We apply a relational ontological approach, conducting phenomenological study of residents in West St. Croix to unpack knowledge-making practices. We reveal that embodied mapping shapes understanding of environmental change, and subsequently informs views of adaptation processes. Residents view adaptation interventions as a technical apparatus apart from the lived experience. Our study demonstrates that knowledge is multiple, situated within socio-historical processes, and embedded in spatial practice. An inclusive adaptation framework needs to embrace plurality to inform a broader discussion of solutions. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Henry, Chaprece LU and Klein, Beatrice
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
climate change adaptation, relational space, knowledge politics, embodiment, cross-scalar, U.S Virgin Islands, sustainability science
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science)
report number
2022:014
language
English
additional info
Fieldwork funded by the Crafoord Foundation
id
9088895
date added to LUP
2022-06-15 10:54:49
date last changed
2022-06-15 10:54:49
@misc{9088895,
  abstract     = {{As climate change adaptation becomes more mainstreamed, there has been an increasing focus on incorporating local knowledge to ensure equitable adaptation pathways. However, adaptation discourses prioritize scientific understandings of climate change, ignoring epistemological differences in knowing climate change. Interventions treat space as inert and fail to consider how spatial relationships constitute valid ways of knowing. By approaching adaptation as a spatial phenomenon, we challenge the current politics of knowledge around adaptation. We apply a relational ontological approach, conducting phenomenological study of residents in West St. Croix to unpack knowledge-making practices. We reveal that embodied mapping shapes understanding of environmental change, and subsequently informs views of adaptation processes. Residents view adaptation interventions as a technical apparatus apart from the lived experience. Our study demonstrates that knowledge is multiple, situated within socio-historical processes, and embedded in spatial practice. An inclusive adaptation framework needs to embrace plurality to inform a broader discussion of solutions.}},
  author       = {{Henry, Chaprece and Klein, Beatrice}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science)}},
  title        = {{“If the earth is a body, den a dam is a blood, watch wa gowin’ awn” The relationship between embodied knowledges of space and perceptions on climate change adaptation in St. Croix}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}