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| The first rule of climate change research: don't mention climate change | The first rule of climate change research: don't mention climate change |
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| On Saturday 14 September, BBC Media Action launches the findings of a major, two-year research project called Climate Asia. The task was to understand how people in Asia are being impacted by climate change in their everyday lives and how they are adapting. | On Saturday 14 September, BBC Media Action launches the findings of a major, two-year research project called Climate Asia. The task was to understand how people in Asia are being impacted by climate change in their everyday lives and how they are adapting. |
| The majority of the 33,500 people we spoke to in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam were not climate scientists or policymakers. They were the farmers, fishermen, housewives, and slum dwellers who live at the frontline of changes in the environment across the region. | The majority of the 33,500 people we spoke to in Bangladesh, China, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan and Vietnam were not climate scientists or policymakers. They were the farmers, fishermen, housewives, and slum dwellers who live at the frontline of changes in the environment across the region. |
| From the outset the challenge was knowing how to talk about climate change. We knew from similar work we undertook in Africa in 2010 that people would probably be able to talk about changes in weather they had noticed, particularly in rural areas. By holding focus groups and visiting communities across Asia we looked to see if it was a similar story – we started understanding changes people felt in seasons over time and how these changes were affecting them. For example, what had the weather been like during the Indian festival of Holi over the years? When did they harvest their crops and how had that changed? | From the outset the challenge was knowing how to talk about climate change. We knew from similar work we undertook in Africa in 2010 that people would probably be able to talk about changes in weather they had noticed, particularly in rural areas. By holding focus groups and visiting communities across Asia we looked to see if it was a similar story – we started understanding changes people felt in seasons over time and how these changes were affecting them. For example, what had the weather been like during the Indian festival of Holi over the years? When did they harvest their crops and how had that changed? |
| It was clear that people were noticing changes in weather and resources. In Vietnam, respondents said: "I now don't need to wear a jumper until November." In India: "I have to walk further to get water." In Nepal: "Maize is not as fat as it used to be." And in China: "Goats are now grazing further up the mountain." | It was clear that people were noticing changes in weather and resources. In Vietnam, respondents said: "I now don't need to wear a jumper until November." In India: "I have to walk further to get water." In Nepal: "Maize is not as fat as it used to be." And in China: "Goats are now grazing further up the mountain." |
| In these discussions with people from all backgrounds across these countries, we understood how the changes they felt were connected to existing problems such as use of fertilisers, pollution, lack of infrastructure and weak service delivery by governments. This research helped us understand whether and how people were responding to the challenges they face. People in cities were also feeling the impacts, for example in Indonesia a woman talked about how she now washed her clothes while she had a bath to save water as it was getting scarce. | In these discussions with people from all backgrounds across these countries, we understood how the changes they felt were connected to existing problems such as use of fertilisers, pollution, lack of infrastructure and weak service delivery by governments. This research helped us understand whether and how people were responding to the challenges they face. People in cities were also feeling the impacts, for example in Indonesia a woman talked about how she now washed her clothes while she had a bath to save water as it was getting scarce. |
| To get valuable results, the survey had to be designed using questions, language and concepts that relate to their day-to-day lives, such as food, water, energy and extreme weather events, rather than the more abstract 'climate change'. Evidence was also gathered by asking about perceived changes in surrounding environment – trees, animal species, insects and pests – over the last ten years. | To get valuable results, the survey had to be designed using questions, language and concepts that relate to their day-to-day lives, such as food, water, energy and extreme weather events, rather than the more abstract 'climate change'. Evidence was also gathered by asking about perceived changes in surrounding environment – trees, animal species, insects and pests – over the last ten years. |
| It was only towards the end of the survey that we finally introduced the term climate change, asking people whether they had heard the term and if they knew what it meant. This would help us understand their knowledge on these issues but also see at the analysis stage if there was any link between people's perceptions and their awareness on climate change. | It was only towards the end of the survey that we finally introduced the term climate change, asking people whether they had heard the term and if they knew what it meant. This would help us understand their knowledge on these issues but also see at the analysis stage if there was any link between people's perceptions and their awareness on climate change. |
| As a communications organisation, we also needed to know how best to reach people to help them act effectively. To do this we gathered information on trust and sources of information, access to media and preferred communication and media channels and formats. Also, by visiting communities we understood how they shared information such as by speaking to Imams [one who leads the prayer in mosque], sitting in tea stalls or by the river when washing clothes. | As a communications organisation, we also needed to know how best to reach people to help them act effectively. To do this we gathered information on trust and sources of information, access to media and preferred communication and media channels and formats. Also, by visiting communities we understood how they shared information such as by speaking to Imams [one who leads the prayer in mosque], sitting in tea stalls or by the river when washing clothes. |
| So what was the aim of this enormous piece of work, that comprised 35 million lines of data and took the research team from crowded slums, to mangrove deltas and isolated mountain communities? Well, while many organisations are working to support adaptation, the conversation on climate change among governments, civil society and the media so far has focused a lot on global warming, extreme weather events and an emissions deal. | So what was the aim of this enormous piece of work, that comprised 35 million lines of data and took the research team from crowded slums, to mangrove deltas and isolated mountain communities? Well, while many organisations are working to support adaptation, the conversation on climate change among governments, civil society and the media so far has focused a lot on global warming, extreme weather events and an emissions deal. |
| As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change prepares to launch its five-yearly report on scientific evidence of climate change at the end of September, and negotiators warm up for COP19 in Warsaw, the findings provide a unique insight into the worries and strategies of some of those most affected by climate change. It tells us that most people are feeling the effects, and that some are adapting but many are struggling for a lack of information, or support, or both. | As the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change prepares to launch its five-yearly report on scientific evidence of climate change at the end of September, and negotiators warm up for COP19 in Warsaw, the findings provide a unique insight into the worries and strategies of some of those most affected by climate change. It tells us that most people are feeling the effects, and that some are adapting but many are struggling for a lack of information, or support, or both. |
| We want to bring the experiences of those at the frontline of climate change to the key people who lead and influence response, and help tailor programming to their needs. Because, as one government official told us in Dhaka: "People may not know what climate change is, but they are feeling its impact." | We want to bring the experiences of those at the frontline of climate change to the key people who lead and influence response, and help tailor programming to their needs. Because, as one government official told us in Dhaka: "People may not know what climate change is, but they are feeling its impact." |
| Sonia Whitehead is senior research manager at Climate Asia | Sonia Whitehead is senior research manager at Climate Asia |
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