Troncarelli Lia Taruiap, de Ataide Maíra Teixeira, Morsello Carla
Institute of Energy and the Environment, University of São Paulo, Av. Prof. Luciano Gualberto, 1289 - Vila Universitária, São Paulo, 05508-900, Brazil.
School of Arts, Sciences and Humanities, University of São Paulo, Rua Arlindo Béttio, 1000 - Ermelino Matarazzo, São Paulo, 03828-000, Brazil.
Environ Evid. 2023 Dec 7;12(1):28. doi: 10.1186/s13750-023-00321-2.
Climate change is having adverse effects on the livelihoods of small-scale populations, particularly in relation to their subsistence practices. Scientific literature widely acknowledges that smallholders must first perceive climate changes to take necessary precautions and adapt to the new conditions. However, variations exist in the terminology used across the literature, and in how it conceptualizes these perceptions. This variation complicates understanding of the literature and hinders empirical evidence comparisons. Therefore, in this review, we systematically mapped the literature considering variations in the concept's usage across different thematic areas. Our goal was to provide a comprehensive overview of the current state of the literature on smallholder climate change perceptions.
In our systematic map, we adhered to the Collaboration for Environmental Evidence guidelines. We searched the literature adopting English terms and using five electronic databases of scientific publications (Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, BASE-Bielefeld Academic Search Engine, PubMed, and Science Direct Elsevier). We then screened the retrieved articles' titles, abstracts, and full texts according to predefined eligibility criteria. Articles meeting the eligibility criteria were chosen for full reading, data extraction, and coding, utilizing a prepared codebook. No validity appraisal occurred in this selection. A database containing coded metadata for all studies is accessible for reference.
After screening 5358 articles (titles and abstracts), we identified and thoroughly reviewed 361 eligible articles at full text to map the usage of the climate change perception concept. Among these, 73 articles provided explicit definitions of perception, falling into seven categories: risk perception, perception based on psychological constructs and sensory stimuli, awareness, prior experience, observation of climate variables, beliefs, and uncertainties or threats. Implicit definitions of perception with various constructs were found, including those rooted in Cognitive Psychology, awareness, risk perception, traditional knowledge, beliefs, concerns about climate change, experiences of exposure to its effects, attitudes, worldviews, and scientific knowledge. Articles usually address multiple topics. Notably, 88% of the articles did not present any theory throughout their content. Geographically, Africa and Asia were the most frequently studied continents, with more focus on non-indigenous small-scale populations than indigenous ones.
In conclusion, the perception concept exhibits an interdisciplinary nature. Therefore, fostering continuous dialogue among diverse disciplines is imperative to establishing an interdisciplinary definition of the term. An in-depth understanding of the perception concept is essential, as its absence can result in erroneous conclusions, limited adaptation strategies, and a lack of awareness among small-scale populations regarding climate change impacts. Misconceptions about this concept can lead to ineffective policies, further endangering vulnerable populations. Defining the concept and its constructs facilitates article comparisons. Without this definition, meaningful comparisons become unfeasible. Moreover, the absence of proper perception definitions poses challenges for small-scale populations, researchers, and stakeholders in developing effective, efficient, and flexible adaptations over time. Perception is the first step in incorporating adaptation strategies and must be translated into policies to address climate change impacts efficiently.
气候变化正在对小规模人群的生计产生不利影响，尤其是在他们的生存方式方面。科学文献广泛承认，小农户必须首先感知气候变化，才能采取必要的预防措施并适应新情况。然而，文献中使用的术语存在差异，以及对这些认知的概念化方式也有所不同。这种差异使对文献的理解变得复杂，并阻碍了实证证据的比较。因此，在本综述中，我们系统地梳理了文献，考虑了该概念在不同主题领域使用中的差异。我们的目标是全面概述关于小农户气候变化认知的文献现状。
在我们的系统梳理中，我们遵循了环境证据协作组织的指南。我们使用英文术语搜索文献，并利用五个科学出版物的电子数据库（科学引文索引核心合集、Scopus、比勒费尔德学术搜索引擎BASE、PubMed和爱思唯尔科学Direct）。然后，我们根据预先确定的合格标准筛选检索到的文章的标题、摘要和全文。符合合格标准的文章被选出来进行全文阅读、数据提取和编码，使用一个预先准备好的编码手册。在这个筛选过程中没有进行有效性评估。一个包含所有研究编码元数据的数据库可供参考。
在筛选了5358篇文章（标题和摘要）之后，我们确定并深入审查了361篇符合全文要求的合格文章，以梳理气候变化认知概念的使用情况。其中，73篇文章提供了认知的明确定义，分为七类：风险认知、基于心理结构和感官刺激的认知、意识、先前经验、气候变量观测、信念以及不确定性或威胁。还发现了对认知的各种结构的隐含定义，包括那些植根于认知心理学、意识、风险认知、传统知识、信念、对气候变化的担忧、接触其影响的经验、态度、世界观和科学知识的定义。文章通常涉及多个主题。值得注意的是，88%的文章在其内容中没有提出任何理论。在地理上，非洲和亚洲是研究最频繁的大陆，更多关注的是非本土小规模人群而非本土人群。
总之，认知概念具有跨学科性质。因此，促进不同学科之间的持续对话对于建立该术语的跨学科定义至关重要。深入理解认知概念至关重要，因为缺乏这种理解可能导致错误结论、有限的适应策略以及小规模人群对气候变化影响缺乏认识。对这个概念的误解可能导致无效政策，进一步危及弱势群体。定义该概念及其结构有助于文章比较。没有这个定义，有意义的比较就变得不可行。此外，缺乏适当的认知定义给小规模人群、研究人员和利益相关者在随着时间推移制定有效、高效和灵活的适应措施方面带来了挑战。认知是纳入适应策略的第一步，必须转化为政策以有效应对气候变化影响。
