The major global scientific and human challenges of the 21st century (including climate mitigation and adaptation, environmental sustainability, biodiversity and ecosystem management, disaster risk reduction, the interplay of society, the economy and energy policy) can only be addressed through cross-domain research that seeks to understand complex systems through machine-assisted analysis at scale.  Our capacity for such analysis is currently constrained by the limitations in our ability to access and combine heterogenous data within and across domains.  The FAIR principles and the frameworks set by Open Science provide a significant part of the solution.  Attention needs to be paid to the interfaces where data is used between disciplines: the geosciences have a vital role to play in this work.

To help address these issues, CODATA has been entrusted by the International Science Council (ISC) to develop a programme of activity: ‘Making Data Work for Cross-Domain Grand Challenges’.  After some exploratory work, the flagship activity is the WorldFAIR project which focuses on the implementation of the FAIR principles both within and across 11 different domain and cross-domain case studies, with a central effort to understand and guide cross-domain FAIR. It is the first broad-based effort to understand the issues around cross-domain and cross-infrastructure FAIR implementation through a case study driven methodology. Ultimately, WorldFAIR will provide guidance for FAIR implementation both within specific domains and infrastructures and across them.  The necessity, affordances and opportunities for cross-domain research are often overlooked, partly due to entrenched academic disciplines.  This presentation will outline a number of concrete examples of work to advance cross-domain interoperability of relevance to the geosciences community.

The I and the R of FAIR pose considerable challenges but are fundamental to addressing complex issues where datasets need to be combined and in enhancing scientific rigour and reproducibility.  Consequently, increasing attention is being paid to semantics, the maintenance of referenceable vocabularies and ontologies and to metadata profiles—and to tools that facilitate the tracking of provenance and process, or that use variable level metadata and semantics to facilitate data integration.  The semantics of space are particularly important in data linking and combination.  WorldFAIR is also developing the Cross-Domain Interoperability Framework (CDIF) which identifies a set of functional requirements for interoperability, particularly for steps in data combination, and recommends good practices for each of these requirements, in relation to the use of existing or emerging standards and specifications.  The CDIF is categorically not a new standard, but is intended to act as a lingua franca across domain data practices and encourage the incorporation of a number of standards that perform important and specific functions across domains.  We are keen to test this approach with colleagues from as many disciplines and application areas as possible.

This talk will explore these developments in detail, make a case for the importance of further work on the I and the R of FAIR, and invite the geosciences research community to participate in the wider WorldFAIR initiative.

How to cite: Hodson, S.: FAIR to Enable Cross-Domain Research, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-9999, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-9999, 2024.

The use of data across disiplinary boundaries is a challenge at many levels, but in order for researchers to make sense of often-unfamiliar data, they must be provided with a wealth of information regarding the provenance, methodology, structure, and semantics of data. Historically, such information has been modelled and implemented in different ways within different scientific domains. Approaches to geo-spatial data are especially problematic when we consider disiplines such as Environmental Science and Social Science. Recent work on cross-domain exchange of such metadata suggests that there are ways to improve this situation, making it far easier to support collaborative research. 

The EOSC "Climate Neutral and Smart Cities" project has demonstrated how improved tools for describing provenance and data processing could be developed for researchers, based on existing metadata standards such as DDI Lifecycle and DDI Cross-Domain Integration (DDI-CDI). Some of the same standards - notably DDI-CDI - are also at the core of an emerging framework designed to address the needs of cross-domain FAIR data exchange. This framework, the Cross-Domain Inteoperability Framework (CDIF) , is being developed through the WorldFAIR project, which looks at eleven different domain use cases. It exemplifies the kind of interoperability framework recommended by the EC's "Turning FAIR into Reality" report (doi: 10.2777/1524).

Collaborative research involving environmental, climate, and social data is increasingly relevant as we try to understand how our world is changing, and what policies will best help us to address these changes. Aligning our data management and documentation systems on emerging best practice will make this collaborative research easier and more effective, helping us to understand the issues we face. 

How to cite: Gregory, A.: Cross-Domain Standards, Tools, and Technical Approaches: EOSC "Climate Neutral and Smart Cities" and the WorldFAIR CDIF Framework, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-11938, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-11938, 2024.

Attitudes on climate change and the protection of the environment have been found to relate in different ways to the current economic and social situation of the respondents. This presentation will describe people's attitudes by analyzing surveys on the topic of climate change and the protection of the environment, including the recent International Social Survey Programme (ISSP) and the Swiss Environmental Panel Study. A closer look will be taken at the economic opinions and willingness to pay higher prices or taxes and their relationship to climate change attitudes. In addition, respondent's trust in people and different institutions will be analyzed. A structural equation analysis is performed to highlight the relations between those concepts. The results will show that support for a better economy and private enterprises are related to lower environmental and climate change concerns, support for paying higher prices or taxes is related to more environmental concerns and higher trust in people and institutions is related to deeper environmental concerns. After that, several demographic characteristics will be used to show if the results are stable when controlling for these. Demographic variables used are age, gender, education level, employment status, income, and political left-right placement. It can be shown that the factors of economic opinions, willingness to pay, and trust in people and institutions all relate to the environmental and climate change attitudes. 

How to cite: Zenk-Möltgen, W.: Attitudes on climate change and their relations to opinions about the economy, willingness to pay, and social trust, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-3191, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-3191, 2024.

Given the growing concern about climate change and its impact on the lives of citizens, it is more necessary than ever to study their attitudes towards the environment and policies to mitigate it, especially in more polluted places such as cities. The Pilot Application in Urban Landscapes (PAUL) project, within the Integrated Carbon Observation System (ICOS Cities) network and in collaboration with the European Social Survey European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ESS ERIC), aims to introduce the social aspect of pollution measurement by conducting a three-wave panel survey in Paris and Munich to explore citizens' attitudes towards public policies to mitigate climate change, urban air quality, energy use and transport, among other topics. The presentation will cover the design of the survey, preliminary results from the first two waves, and how survey data can be mixed with environmental data to improve the findings and help understand social perceptions of climate change in cities.

How to cite: Zavala-Rojas, D. and Blanco Bosco, A.: Bringing the human dimension into the measurement of greenhouse gases emissions, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-17770, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-17770, 2024.

The research presented in this paper underscores the profound importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, particularly between the realms of social sciences and natural sciences, in addressing the complex challenges of urban climate governance. The study, focused on the experiences of Paris, Munich, and Zurich, highlights the intricate multi-level governance structures inherent in these cities and the interactions between diverse stakeholders involved in shaping and implementing climate strategies. By employing a combination of interviews, document analysis, and event visits, the research not only illuminates the increasing complexity of interactions between different stakeholders but also accentuates the necessity for collaboration between social scientists and natural scientists. These collaborations extend beyond traditional relationships with higher levels of government, encompassing intra-city collaborations and engagements with science, businesses, and civil society.

In the context of the broader theme of environmental issues, the paper contributes to the discourse by emphasizing that effective solutions require a comprehensive and holistic understanding. It underscores that the integration of social science expertise with environmental research, and vice versa, is essential for developing innovative and sustainable solutions. The challenges faced by the cities in achieving ambitious climate goals stress the urgency of bridging the gap between disciplines.

In conclusion, this research contributes to the broader discourse on interdisciplinary collaboration by highlighting the evolving nature of urban climate governance and the importance of effective interaction among various stakeholders. It reaffirms the need for a comprehensive understanding of environmental problems and their solutions, emphasizing the significance of multi-level governance in contributing positively to the attainment of climate goals. The insights presented here align with the call for contributions that explore the synergy between social science and environmental research, fostering meaningful discussions and exchange of ideas across different perspectives and domains.

How to cite: Dias Carneiro, B., Isidoro Losada, A. M., Schreurs, M., and Kee, K.: Interdisciplinary Insights into Urban Climate Governance: Navigating Complexities Through Collaborative Strategies, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-6733, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-6733, 2024.

ICOS Cities is an EU-funded project that aims to develop a systematic greenhouse gas measurement system for urban areas. The Work Package (WP) 1 of the project investigates economic, societal, and political dimensions that influence how city decision-makers use and will use emission data. The two main aims of WP1 are to: 1) Collect, unlock and harmonise prior information on city climate infrastructures and emissions, and 2) Investigate relevant services the city observatory should provide to answer the needs of cities in terms of estimation of their GHG emissions and implementation of their climate policies. Stakeholder engagement is facilitated in WP1 to map the information, service and policy needs of the city administrations, as well as by conducting social surveys and semi-structured interviews with the citizens. The authors are responsible for WP1 Task 1.4, which aims to co-design a number of service prototypes demonstrating the potential of the project in the pilot cities context and develop a general methodology for service development for the use of other cities. 

In the initial phase of our research, we conducted a benchmarking study to develop an in-depth understanding of existing services used by the cities to display and make sense of emission data and feed into policy processes from the perspective of their intended users. To achieve this, first, a number of stakeholders in different European cities have been surveyed to collect data on the existing services. Then, the technological constraints and the situation in three selected pilot cities of the project (Zurich, Munich, Paris) have been further explored in selected in-depth interviews with pilot city representatives or other topical experts. As a result, we developed an initial typology of existing services targeting different users of GHG emissions data, including but not limited to city-level policymakers. Several service types related to GHG monitoring were found, focusing on interactive carbon impact data, emission reduction monitoring, and services for estimating emissions of different types. These services have also been targeted at different actor groups and geographical resolutions and have different design realisations. 

Our findings indicate that services that connect real-time measurements (or even periodic measurements) to activities in municipal planning currently do not exist. Despite the availability of real-time data, the practices and standards on how such data is processed and used are only emerging, and the data is scattered amongst several actors. There also exist major challenges to moving assessments further from scope 1 (the direct impacts of energy and fuel use), and the process depends on many types of supplementary data. These gaps, amongst other elements of the service system, indicate significant opportunities for new service development, which we will focus on in the next phase of the project.

How to cite: Marttila, T., Gaziulusoy, I., Berns, K., and Ikonen, L.: Real-time Data Using Services: A Co-design Opportunity in ICOS Cities Project , EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-18487, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-18487, 2024.

We delve into the comprehensive approach employed by the CAMS PL - Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service National Collaboration Program for disseminating air quality knowledge to society. The initiative encompasses outreach through various channels, primarily leveraging social media platforms and the organization's website. A crucial aspect of this dissemination strategy is rooted in insights from surveys conducted among diverse stakeholders, including non-profit organizations, local administration units, the scientific community, secondary school teachers and students.

Specifically, this presentation sheds light on the program's utilization of Instagram and Facebook profiles as dynamic tools for engagement. The nuances of connecting with various demographics through these popular social media platforms are explored, emphasizing the adaptability and responsiveness required to convey air quality information effectively.

This presentation aims to contribute to the broader discourse on effective science communication strategies, particularly in environmental awareness and education.

How to cite: Drzewiecki, P. and Gienibor, A.: Disemination of air quality knowledge to the society through CAMS PL - Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service National Colaboration Program., EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-16646, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-16646, 2024.

Idea and objectives: Urban citizens are key beneficiaries of benefits delivered by urban green-blue infrastructure as nature-based solutions. However, the delivery as well as the utilization of ecosystem services is tied to local context and therefore, depending, e.g., on the types of locally relevant societal or environmental issues, urban morphology, socio-demographic characteristics of potential beneficiaries and resulting demands for ecosystem services, or conditions of urban nature inclusive of the state of health of green elements. In this regard, citizens may not only act as beneficiaries of benefits provided by nature, but also as knowledge holders regarding local conditions in the broadest sense. Tapping into this body of knowledge, e.g., through citizen science and/or participatory mapping approaches, is considered crucial for achieving resilient, sustainable, and locally relevant as well as more widely accepted nature-based solutions that promote human health and well-being. From a set of diverse cases, the application of a trait-based framework showcases how citizen science and participatory mapping may support urban planning and the promotion, management and/or monitoring of urban green-blue infrastructure as nature-based solutions at the local level.

Background: Traits are understood as aggregate features of individual elements of the green-blue infrastructure, including, e.g., spatial, structural, functional, sensory, institutional or contextual qualities. In line with the social-ecological traits concept, these characteristics are seen to shape human experiences, knowledge and affordances, thus linking qualities of urban nature with ecosystem services and therefore, potential (co-)benefits. However, traits may also help to uncover local social-environmental issues including potentials and concerns, thus challenging urban policy-making. The implemented citizen science framework that is being presented adopts social-ecological traits as research theme-related boundary objects, e.g., to explore citizens’ awareness, perceptions and ideas of locally-specific traits. In so-doing, first, potential feedback loops that may shape compatibility of urban green-blue infrastructure elements for specific purposes, uses, and/or users may be uncovered. Second, potential pathways for local action may be identified to support a more holistic and more inclusive management and planning of nature-based solutions.

How to cite: Scheuer, S., Basnou, C., Sumfleth, L., and Haase, D.: How do we perceive green spaces? Trait-based citizen science to support the monitoring and management of nature-based solutions, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-8008, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-8008, 2024.

Despite being one of the most densely populated and urbanized regions of Europe, 84% of Flanders' citizens have a garden, covering 12% of its territory. Research has shown that the collective network of domestic gardens could make a substantial contribution to climate change adaptation and mitigation, emphasizing their spatial and ecological importance as an integral part of the urban green infrastructure. Nevertheless, these private outdoor spaces are autonomously managed by many individual gardeners, often prioritizing aesthetics rather than environmental considerations. Understanding how people manage their gardens, and why, is thus crucial for unlocking the climate potential of gardens. This understanding can shed light on the current situation and identify opportunities for change. Unfortunately, limited research has been conducted on both garden management practices and the social drivers behind the decision-making process of individual gardeners. Therefore, our research aimed at unveiling current management practices and examining their variations across the urban gradient of Flanders. Through an online citizen science survey with a substantial sample size (n = 827) of Flemish domestic garden owners, we assessed garden management practices, as well as, motivations and self-reported knowledge. Potential cofounding factors such as personal, socio-economic and spatial context were also taken into account. Using a mixed model approach, we researched to what extent motivations, self-reported knowledge and context influence garden management decisions. Simultaneously, our analysis focused on variations of garden management practices across different urbanization levels, highlighting the intricate relationship between local contexts and the diverse ecological and social drivers influencing individual gardeners' decisions. By recognizing this interconnectedness, our findings offer insights that can inform urban planning and policy strategies to harness the untapped potential within these private green spaces. Ultimately, integrating social science into environmental studies is crucial for a comprehensive approach to addressing climate change and encouraging individual gardeners to adopt more climate-resilient practices.

How to cite: Teerlinck, J., Wittemans, K., Dewaelheyns, V., Steen, T., and Somers, B.: The Climate Potential of Garden Management: A Socio-Ecological Perspective, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-10601, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-10601, 2024.

In a recently started scientific project aiming at “Developing Energy Communities with Intelligent and Sustainable Technologies” (DE-CIST), we combine physical data on buildings in Rotterdam (The Netherlands) with socio-economic data from neighbourhoods and input from citizens and communities. Individual building data, together with meteorological, air quality, and GHG emission data, are processed by a novel AI solution classifying neighbourhoods and buildings based on their current status of energy sustainability, and their energy saving and emission reduction potential. This, in turn, informs measures that fit best per building and per neighborhood. Yet, to reveal which buildings or neighbourhoods are the worst off, we approach the problem using a socio-technological transitions perspective, which takes into account the needs and concerns of all citizens, notably the ones of the most vulnerable populations to reveal energy poverty and injustice. Using this approach, we will show which neighbourhoods can benefit the most, technically as well as socially.

Our presentation will start with an overview of the DE-CIST project and demonstrate how the combination of environmental and social information can make the energy transition process more efficient, economically viable, equitable, and more human. From recent analysis we conclude that energy communities have a strong effect on trust and engagement, fostering environmental awareness and motivation to save energy. In our presentation we will provide further insights into energy efficiency and renovations of buildings, and into how we can realize a fair, coherent energy transition process using a combination of results from AI-based methods, environmental modelling (of air pollution), and our analysis of the interviews with stakeholders and survey data.

How to cite: Los, A., Moody, R., Andriotis, C., Khademi, S., and Morato, P. G.: Developing Energy Communities with Intelligent and Sustainable Technologies – First Results, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-11458, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-11458, 2024.

How to cite: Bertsch-Hörmann, B., Gaube, V., Halada, L., Rosario, I., and Erb, K.: Assessing the role of stakeholder communication in agricultural adaptation and land-use decision-making, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-20080, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-20080, 2024.

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is essential in most climate change mitigation pathways, but the deployment of dedicated bioenergy crops risks enhancing land use competition. Recultivating recently abandoned cropland to produce perennial grasses has been highlighted as an option for near-term bioenergy deployment with reduced sustainability trade-offs. However, the real-world feasibility of utilizing abandoned cropland for bioenergy and BECCS is still unclear.

We used a combination of natural science and qualitative social science methods to assess near-term recultivation opportunities for bioenergy, considering biophysical potentials, future biomass demand, and sociotechnical conditions. Focusing on Norway, we processed high-resolution global gridded land use projections from integrated assessment to unravel how global drivers may affect Norwegian land use with future global climate action. We mapped recently abandoned cropland using satellite data and quantified bioenergy and BECCS resource potentials using a crop yield model. We interviewed local farmers and stakeholders and performed a policy document analysis in the region with the highest resoure potential. Applying the multi-level perspective, we investigated the interplay between technical aspects and social aspects.

Land use projections showed major near-term bioenergy crop deployment in SSP-RCP2.6 scenarios and Trøndelag had the highest Norwegian near-term bioenergy resource potentials from abandoned cropland. While we found a theoretical potential for bioenergy crop expansion, the sociotechnical analysis showed a lack of real-world feasibility of achieving the modelled pace of bioenergy expansion from SSP-RCP2.6 scenarios. Remote sensing insufficiently captured actual local land availability for bioenergy. New policies are needed if BECCS from abandoned cropland is to deliver a meaningful contribution to climate change mitigation. Increased integration of social science perspectives into large-scale modelling exercises is key to better understand the role of BECCS in climate change mitigation.

How to cite: Næss, J. S., Henriksen, I. M., and Skjølsvold, T. M.: Integrating environmental modelling and qualitative social science to evaluate BECCS from abandoned cropland, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-20468, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-20468, 2024.

The aviation industry, among the transportation sector, has come under heightened scrutiny as it is a major contributor to global carbon emissions and one of the most challenging industries to decarbonize. In response to the overwhelming calls for climate actions, the aviation industry has turned to a market-based approach - voluntary carbon offsetting - showcasing their dedication to carbon reduction. Investing in high-quality carbon offset projects holds great significance and contributes to the global efforts aimed at reducing carbon emissions. However, the corporate communication of airlines, crucial in influencing public perception and comprehension regarding voluntary carbon offsetting, has faced criticism for its lack of transparency and accuracy. This research therefore investigates the communication practices of voluntary carbon offsetting in the aviation industry, focusing on accessibility, clarity and transparency, and operational aspects. The study employs a multi-faceted approach, including a literature review on greenwashing, a case study of five Asian-based airlines, and the development of a coding scheme for content analysis. By examining the airlines’ official websites and sustainability reports, we seek to identify patterns and variations in their communication strategies on voluntary carbon offsetting. Preliminary results from the literature review and ongoing case study analysis showcase the importance of accessibility, transparency, and clarity in voluntary carbon offsetting communication. As the research progresses, further content analysis will unveil the potential instances of misleading tactics and highlights of best practices, fostering a more informed and transparent approach to voluntary carbon offsetting communication in the aviation industry. 

How to cite: Tsoi, H. N.: Corporate Communication on Voluntary Carbon Offsetting in the Aviation Industry: A Case Study of Asian Airlines, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-8593, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-8593, 2024.

Climate models have shown that there will be an increasing susceptibility to drought in the future for semi-arid regions. However, the impact of these droughts depends on the sensitivity of landscapes and the adaptive capacity of communities. Using a vulnerability framework, and a mixed-methods approach, this paper assesses the vulnerability of the social-ecological systems along a rainfall gradient transect in southwest (SW) Madagascar at multiple timescales. We used a transdisciplinary approach, that combines synthesized regional climate records to assess the exposure to drought, and fossil pollen data from four sites ranging from wetter to drier areas to assess the sensitivity of landscapes over the last 2000 years. Local ecological knowledge (LEK) from household surveys from the driest sites in the Plateau Mahafaly was then conducted to infer adaptive capacity of local communities. Results show that over time, changes in climate linked to drought increase the vulnerability of the social ecological systems in Southwestern Madagascar particularly to the communities’ livelihoods in the driest regions, where there were fewer adaptation options, their need to migrate, and also on biodiversity. Although some coping and adaptation strategies including migration are in place for the communities, these might create feedback loop leading to further degradation and impacts on biodiversity and its conservation, especially in the driest regions where degradation is most likely to occur due to lower adaptive capacity. 

How to cite: Razanatsoa, E., Gillson, L., and Virah-Sawmy, M.: Transdisciplinary assessment of social-ecological vulnerability to Climate Change in Southwest Madagascar, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-15639, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-15639, 2024.

Improving sustainability in local socio-ecological systems needs implementation of regionally adapted policies for sustainable development, which are based on place-based knowledge production and engaged stakeholder collaboration. One such approach is the Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research (LTSER) platform. The LTSER network emerged as a bottom-up process where existing local and national initiatives formed a network and were recognised as research infrastructures at European level. Conditions for joining the LTSER network include (usually): support from the local, regional and national authorities of the platform; the existence of long-term data sets (especially biodiversity indicators, but also abiotic variables); and the inclusion and integration of socio-economic data. One of these LTSER platforms is the Eisenwurzen in Austria, which has a long tradition in cooperating in inter- and transdisciplinary social-ecological research.

With the proposed presentation we would like to give an insight into the organisation of the LTSER platform Eisenwurzen and the challenges and successes it faces in promoting inter- and transdisciplinary research. We will present participatory modelling projects carried out in the region. The key challenge for transdisciplinary research, which aims to integrate diverse societal and scientific knowledge systems, is to produce both societal and scientific impacts at the same time. Participatory modelling is a method that uses models in three ways: as a means to generate knowledge, to achieve knowledge integration and to enable societal impact. Agent-based modelling is a computer simulation technique that allows the simulation of different actors as agents, the socio-economic and natural environment in which they are embedded, and the interactions between agents and between agents and their environment. The models with individual farm households as agents simulate how changes in socio-economic and political conditions affect patterns of land use, agricultural production and the socio-economic situation within that region.

We discuss how and why participatory modelling can help to enhance the impact potential of transdisciplinary research, as well as the limitations of different types of models. We show that participatory modelling allows for the integration of relevant societal and environmental knowledge into the models and for the development of scenarios and strategies in collaboration with stakeholders. Participatory modelling shows its strength in structuring communication about future scenarios and recommendations for action to achieve the goals of the different groups involved in transdisciplinary research. Stakeholders can use the model for effective discussion and education processes to find sustainable ways of land use development.

How to cite: Gaube, V., Egger, C., Bertsch-Hörmann, B., Stocker-Kiss, A., and Smetschka, B.: Participatory modelling and knowledge integration in LTSER platforms, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-19180, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-19180, 2024.

Ambiguity is a unique form of uncertainty that goes beyond merely indicating knowledge deficits or gaps; rather, it represents a state of confusion among decision actors. This confusion arises within a group due to the coexistence of diverse, and at times, conflicting meanings and interpretations concerning a situation. In the presence of ambiguity, it may not be clear what the main issues of concern are, who hold responsibility over them, what needs to be done. As an inherent characteristic of a collective, ambiguity is tightly linked with diversity and plurality, and the processes and procedures that underlie group dynamics. Here, I argue that ambiguity plays a pivotal role in adapting to climate change.

To investigate the functioning of ambiguity, I draw upon (uncertainty) relational theory and analyse different study cases of water management. The results suggest that ambiguity can yield significant benefits in adaptation. It enhances flexibility in managing unknown conditions, enables the anticipation of conflicts and avoids maladaptation, and creates opportunities for establishing new supportive relationships and alternative solutions. These insights contribute to a nuanced understanding of the role of ambiguity in climate change adaptation, offering valuable guidance for policymakers, water managers, and stakeholders engaged in crafting resilient and sustainable water management strategies.

How to cite: Brugnach, M.: Ambiguity: Why does it hold a key role in the adaptation to climate change?, EGU General Assembly 2024, Vienna, Austria, 14–19 Apr 2024, EGU24-18518, https://doi.org/10.5194/egusphere-egu24-18518, 2024.