Paper short abstract:

The shift in emphasis in Paris from the top-down architecture of Kyoto to a more inclusive, bottom-up “polycentric” approach creates new opportunities for anthropologists to engage with climate change policy making. One of the biggest challenges of planning and implementation of climate policies nationally, locally and internationally is how to best take into account diversity of cultures and diversity of knowledge, including the indigenous knowledge of many communities worldwide, so as whatever action is taken (including investments in climate resilience) it will not result in irreversible impacts on such communities. In addition to issues related to indigenous peoples, there will be an expanded role for cities and non-governmental actors in climate policy. In developing diverse response strategies for both mitigation and adaptation, an anthropological understanding of local, political, scientific, and institutional cultures will be important in shaping the policy discourses around science and action that will be essential if the world is to achieve success in pursuit of the Paris goals. A number of institutions and programmes exist under the UNFCCC and new ones have been established by the Paris Agreement. Various dialogues and fora provide for a space to accommodate anthropologists’ participation. Their engagement in the current projects of the Adaptation and Technology Committees, in developing multiannual programme for the response measures forum or in designing the newly established institutions like Paris Committee for Capacity Building will be invaluable. Private sector investments could also be boosted thanks to better understanding of traditions and cultural background in the given area.