ABSTRACT
This chapter addresses the need to bridge gaps in understandings and perceptions of climate change and uncertainty across multiple levels and reflects on the role of roundtables as supporting arenas for bridging these knowledge gaps. There is a “globalising instinct” in climate change science that tends to favour global-scale models and measurements and that often neglects the lived realities, experiences and knowledges of people living in the localities where the effects of climate change manifest themselves (see Chapter 2). National policies on adaptation are informed by such global assessments, and there is often a limited understanding – and appreciation – of local experiences and knowledges of climate change and its related uncertainties. The chapter begins by briefly tracing the ebbs and flows of knowledge-making on climate change. It shows how, from being initially quite inclusive, knowledge-making practices narrowed down to centre on expert-led knowledge before broadening up and becoming more inclusive of alternative forms of knowledge and knowledge co-production. We then go on to describe the experience of roundtables that were organised in all three research sites, involving scientists, academics, community representatives, NGOs and civil society. We conclude the chapter by reviewing and reflecting on some of the key emerging issues.
