Participation in the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology: Researchers highlight communication and socio-environmental justice in island territories

From July 6 to 11, 2025, the 5th ISA Forum of Sociology was held at Mohammed V University in Rabat, Morocco. Fátima Alves* and Ana Bijóias Mendonça* participated in this international meeting by presenting two papers centred on the challenges of communication, participation, and socio-environmental justice in island contexts. Ana Bijóias Mendonça* and Fátima Alves* participated in this international meeting by presenting two papers centred on the challenges of communication, participation, and socio-environmental justice in island contexts.

On July 9, in the session dedicated to socio-environmental dynamics, the researchers presented the paper “Building Brighten Futures: Knowledge and communication on socio-environmental topics in two Macaronesian regions”, in which they shared research findings that underscore the importance of collaborative and culturally embedded approaches in building more sustainable futures. The presentation highlighted:

• The relevance of lay rationalities and local knowledge as essential resources in addressing the climate crisis;
• The urgency of moving beyond the illusion of inclusion and reinforcing truly participatory proximity-based policies;
• The need to strengthen actor networks as foundations for co-decision processes aimed at socio-environmental justice;
• The importance of listening, translating, communicating, and co-constructing solutions with all the voices that inhabit the territories.

On July 11, the paper ‘Powering Communication and Societal Engagement with Climate Research and Policies in Insular Territories’ was presented, based on a comparative case study between the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands. Drawing on a comparative case study between the Autonomous Region of Madeira and the Autonomous Community of the Canary Islands, the presentation examined the processes of knowledge production and dissemination related to climate change. The study showed that institutional discourses continue to favour top-down approaches. Despite the participatory rhetoric, resistance persists among institutionalised knowledge structures, hindering the effective involvement of local communities and other territorial actors. The research highlighted:

• The dissonances and contradictions that shape communication on global socio-environmental challenges, particularly in island territories;
• The need to implement broader, faster and more effective communication mechanisms;
• The importance of fostering genuinely inclusive, co-participated and consequential processes to support decision-making.

The abstracts can be found at the link below.

*Societies and Environmental Sustainability Research Group of the Centre for Functional Ecology – Science for People & the Planet, TERRA Associated Laboratory of the University of Coimbra and its Extension at Universidade Aberta de Portugal