When Urgency Feels Distant: The Paradox of Social Perceptions of Climate Change Among Social Sciences and Humanities Researchers

On 26 May, Fátima Alves took part in the 5th World Symposium on Science and Research in Sustainability, held in Lisbon. Together with Diogo Guedes Vidal and Maria Fernanda Rollo, she presented a paper entitled ‘When Urgency Feels Distant: The Paradox of Social Perceptions of Climate Change Among Social Sciences and Humanities Researchers’.

The presentation addressed the disconnect in perceptions of climate change among Social Sciences and Humanities researchers, highlighting how, despite high academic involvement with the topic, many researchers still perceive the climate crisis as a distant problem. This paradox was explored through a study of 85 researchers, which revealed the differences in urgency in the perception of the local and global impacts of the climate crisis. The paper also discussed the impact of emotions and personal beliefs on perceptions and the growing tension between the action of young activists and the more moderate responses of previous generations.

The conclusions propose the need for greater engagement of higher education institutions and researchers with local communities, through contextualised education strategies and interdisciplinary dialogue, to foster more effective and collaborative responses to the climate crisis.