Dialogues on Climate Change

Anthropogenic climate change is one of the most pressing challenges of our time, affecting all aspects of our planet’s varied environments and societies. As scientists grapple with the far-reaching consequences of climate change, academic and wider public discourse increasingly resembles a ‘dialogue of the deaf’ in which divergent social groups dismiss or deride competing forms of evidence about the problems we face and the solutions that are proposed. There is an urgent need for a platform that facilitates meaningful and respectful interdisciplinary dialogues across divides. Dialogues on Climate Change is envisioned as a groundbreaking academic journal dedicated to fostering these essential conversations. The journal aims to provide a space for scholars and experts from diverse backgrounds to engage in critical discussions and debates about climate change science, risks, and solutions, transcending the boundaries of traditional disciplines and divisions.

Dialogues on Climate Change will promote cross-disciplinary conversations by bringing together researchers and experts from various fields such as environmental science, geography, science and technology studies, economics, psychology, sociology, history and political science. Crucially, it will also promote conversations across divergent social groups known to explain disagreements about climate change; such as those with more individualistic or more collectivist values, and those with more hierarchical or more egalitarian values. The journal is committed to fostering critical thinking about the full spectrum of climate change topics, including ongoing debates about the science, risks and solutions. We aim to provide a platform where scholars can rigorously examine the strengths and weaknesses of different perspectives. By presenting an array of viewpoints, we aim to bridge gaps in understanding among researchers, policymakers and the public at large.

The scope of Dialogues on Climate Change covers the full range of topics related to anthropogenic climate change. This includes, but is not limited to, theoretical and empirical articles on: the latest natural and social science research findings, methods, and models in the field of climate change; the risks and impacts associated with climate change, including both physical and social dimensions; the promise and pitfalls of different strategies designed to address climate change, spanning emissions reductions and removals, adaptation and solar radiation modification; the effectiveness of climate policies and governance architectures at local, national and international levels.

The rationale behind Dialogues on Climate Change lies in the recognition that climate change is a ‘wicked’ problem with no definitive formulation of the problem, nor the solution. It is a multifaceted issue that cannot be fully understood from any one disciplinary perspective or set of values. As such. climate change debates often fall victim to oversimplification and polarization. By creating a platform that encourages open and respectful dialogues among experts with differing perspectives, the journal aims to ensure that all voices are heard and responded to; to advance the knowledge base surrounding climate change issues, enabling more informed and well-rounded understandings; and through wellinformed debates, to inspire more effective climate action. No existing journal caters to the aims, scope and rationale herein in a manner similar to the Sage Dialogues model.

In short, Dialogues on Climate Change is poised to be a pioneering academic journal, providing an intellectual space for meaningful and respectful conversations and critical analysis in the pursuit of better understanding and tackling climate change. We invite natural and social scientist researchers and experts from all disciplines and worldviews to engage in these dialogues and make theoretical and empirical contributions to our shared understanding of climate change, its risks, and solutions.