WSU Associate Professor of Anthropology Dr. Anne Pisor recently edited a special edition of the scientific journal Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B: Biological Sciences. The issue took a global perspective of adaptations to climate change for communities living on the front lines, already feeling the effects of a shifting climate on their own stability. 

The special issue consisted of thirteen scholarly papers focusing on aspects of climate change from communities all around the globe, and Dr. Pisor hopes to extend the reach of the information presented further than the academic journal. 

Climate change adaptations on a global scale is a big topic to tackle; Dr. Pisor had a few main goals in mind while editing this issue. She emphasizes the importance of incorporating input from local communities, saying, “there’s a tendency to think that [scientists] from the West know better. That is not a good starting point when you’re not the one living on the front line.” 

Equally essential are the brass tacks of research, “to study systematically how locally emergent adaptations come about. How can we foster local ideas so that they have a chance to take hold and spread?” Dr. Pisor said. When it comes to providing international aid, knowing how and why local adaptations came into use is critical. 

Lastly, Dr. Pisor wanted the special issue to communicate that climate adaptation is an imperfect process that will require continual re-examination. “It’s not all going to unfold perfectly,” she said, “There will be ideas that don’t work. We are using something that worked well in the past, but given how conditions are changing now, they may not work as well as they used to.” At top of mind, for her, is making sure that people do not lose their livelihoods when ideas don’t pan out.