Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Commentary
  • Published:

Social learning and sustainable development

Subjects

To understand what social learning approaches can offer the sciences of adaptation and mitigation, we need to assemble an appropriate evidence base.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Relevant articles

Open Access articles citing this article.

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Figure 1: An evaluative framework for assembling an evidence base on the impacts of social learning.

References

  1. Clark, W. C. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA http://dx.doi.org/10.1073/pnas.0900231108 (2011).

  2. Cash, D. W. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 100, 8086–8091 (2003).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Kristjanson, P. et al. Proc. Natl Acad. Sci. USA 106, 5047–5052 (2009).

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Collins, K. & Ison, R. Environ. Policy Gov. 19, 358–373 (2009).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Reed, M. et al. Ecol. Soc. 15, r1 (December 2010).

  6. Shaw, A. & Kristjanson, P. Catalysing Learning for Development and Climate Change: An Exploration of Social Learning and Social Differentiation in CGIAR (CCAFS, 2013); http://go.nature.com/A42JLz

    Google Scholar 

  7. Tschakert, P. & Dietrich, K. A. Ecol. Soc. 15, 1 (June 2010).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Rodela, R. Ecol. Soc. 16, 30 (December 2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  9. Harvey, B. et al. Social Learning in Practice: A Review of Lessons, Impacts and Tools for Climate Change (CCAFS, 2013); http://go.nature.com/8nuYdm

    Google Scholar 

  10. Armitage, D., Marschke, M. & Plummer, R. Glob. Environ. Change 18, 86–98 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Muro, M. & Jeffrey, P. J. Environ. Plan. Manage. 51, 325–344 (2008).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Cundill, G. et al. NJAS-Wagen. J. Life Sci. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.njas.2013.04.001 (2013).

  13. Bidwell, D., Dietz, T. & Scavia, D. Nature Clim. Change 3, 610–611 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Duveskog, D., Friis-Hansen, E. & Taylor, E. J. Dev. Stud. 47, 1529–1544 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Van Etten, J. IDS Bull. 42, 102–110 (2011).

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Decision-making for Climate Resilient Livelihoods and Risk Reduction: A Participatory Scenario Planning Approach (CARE International, 2013); http://go.nature.com/TNDeeB

  17. Chaudury, M., Vervoort, J., Kristjanson, P., Ericksen, P. & Ainslie, A. Reg. Environ. Change 13, 389–398 (2013).

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This commentary was produced as part of a continuing social learning process — the Climate Change and Social Learning initiative (http://ccsl.wikispaces.com) — in which knowledge is being co-constructed through many different channels. We are very grateful to everyone who has participated in this process so far and to those who continue to do so. The Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security Program is funded by the CGIAR Fund, AusAid, Danish International Development Agency, Environment Canada, Instituto de Investigação Científica Tropical, Irish Aid, Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, Government of Russia, UK Aid and the European Union, with technical support from the International Fund for Agricultural Development.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Patti Kristjanson.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kristjanson, P., Harvey, B., Van Epp, M. et al. Social learning and sustainable development. Nature Clim Change 4, 5–7 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2080

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/nclimate2080

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing Anthropocene

Sign up for the Nature Briefing: Anthropocene newsletter — what matters in anthropocene research, free to your inbox weekly.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing: Anthropocene