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FS 26.109

Participation, Power and Justice in Hazard and Climate Risk Research

Session status: Accepted

Content last updated: 2026-06-21 19:13:45

Online available since: 2025-12-17 10:48:12

Details

Full Title
Participation, Power and Justice in Natural Hazard and Climate Risk Research
Scheduled
Talks:
2026-07-07, 08:30 - 10:00 (LT), Liebenerspitze
Talks:
2026-07-07, 08:30 - 10:00 (LT), Liebenerspitze
Chair
Posch, Eva
Co-chair(s)
Pedoth, Lydia; Polderman, Annemarie; and McGlade, Katriona
Thematic Focus
Equality, Natural Hazards
Keywords
Research ethics, Power and justice, Participation, Natural hazards, Alpine research

Abstract/Description

The content was (partly) adapted by AI

Research in the Alps is crucial for understanding natural hazards, climate- and hazard-related risks, and socio-ecological change. At the same time, there is growing awareness that how research is conducted in mountain regions matters as much as what is studied. In many Alpine contexts, research agendas, case study selection, and methods are shaped by external experts, funding schemes, and institutions, while local actors live with the consequences of how hazards, risks, and environmental change are framed. These dynamics affect local actors differently, as participation, knowledge recognition, and benefits are shaped by intersecting social positions such as gender, age, livelihood, language, and place-based inequalities.

Debates on research ethics, “parachute science,” and justice in knowledge production are therefore highly relevant for Alpine regions, where remoteness, uneven power relations, and dependence on external expertise can amplify both positive and negative impacts of research. This session focuses on research practices, relationships, and power dynamics in the production of knowledge about hazards, climate risk, and environmental change.

We invite contributions that critically reflect on research practices in the Alpine region, especially in relation to natural hazards, climate and hazard risks, and related fields. We are interested in how relationships between academic and non-academic actors, such as municipalities, NGOs, protected area managers, tourism actors, farmers, and local residents, are negotiated in practice, and what impacts these interactions generate. We welcome reflexive analyses of research projects, collaborations, funding structures, and institutional arrangements that shape Alpine research.

Contributions may address who defines research questions and methods, whose knowledge is valued, how local actors are involved, which dimensions of justice are at stake, and how researchers deal with trust building, research fatigue, feedback obligations, and long-term responsibilities.

By bringing together researchers and practitioners, this session aims to foster dialogue on more careful, reflexive, and just research practices in the European Alps and other mountain regions.

Registered Abstracts

ID: 3.23

Towards disability inclusive risk management

Vesna Coutureau
Bork-Hüffer, Tabea; Keiler, Margreth

Abstract/Description

People with disabilities face disproportionately high risks during disasters, yet they remain insufficiently considered in disaster risk management (DRM) planning and practice. Despite international frameworks such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction and the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, disability-inclusive approaches are still inadequately implemented, particularly at local and regional levels. This study contributes to this gap through an exploratory pilot study in the alpine region of Tyrol, Austria, focusing on flood risk exposure and preparedness in facilities serving people with disabilities.

The study combines spatial analysis of residential and workplace facilities with qualitative expert interviews and document analysis. Flood hazard maps were used to assess exposure to river and torrential flooding, while interviews with representatives from disaster management, disability services, and research explored awareness, preparedness, and institutional inclusion. Results show that a substantial number of facilities are located within flood-prone areas, including zones of moderate to high hazard. At the same time, awareness of flood risk and preparedness measures within disability facilities is limited, and disability-specific considerations are largely absent from disaster planning. Key barriers include inaccessible risk information, insufficient data on affected populations, and limited participation of people with disabilities in emergency planning and response structures.

The findings highlight an urgent need for disability-inclusive disaster risk management that integrates accessible risk communication, targeted preparedness measures, improved data collection, and the meaningful involvement of people with disabilities. While grounded in a Tyrolean case study, the results are relevant for other mountainous regions facing similar hazard and governance contexts. The presentation will conclude with an outlook on further research in this field.

ID: 3.71

Co-creation of a Disaster Preparedness Checklist for health systems to address the impacts of Extreme Weather Events in four European Alpine areas

Giulia Facci
Del Prete, Clara; Musso, Francesco; Della Libera, Bianca; Ragazzoni, Luca; Valente, Martina; Barone-Adesi, Francesco

Abstract/Description

As climate-related Extreme Weather Events (EWEs) increasingly threaten population health and the functioning of health systems, there is a growing need for adaptive, context-specific preparedness tools developed collaboratively with relevant local stakeholders. This study presents the co-creation and piloting processes of a disaster preparedness Checklist for health systems, designed to strengthen preparedness for EWEs across Alpine areas in Europe. The tool was co-developed and pilot-tested with health system representatives from four participating countries (i.e., Austria, France, Romania and Slovenia), as part of the European Horizon MOUNTADAPT, a project dedicated to climate adaptation in Alpine regions of Europe. The development of the Disaster Preparedness Checklist followed a multi-step co-creation process that combined research skills, specialized technical knowledge (e.g., mountain medicine, disaster risk), as well as local experiential understanding of the territory and the country’s disaster risk management structure and health system. The process unfolded through several phases: a tailored assessment of disaster risk management needs in each area; the co-creation of the specific adaptation tool, its scientific validation, and real-world testing; and finally, the evaluation of the tool and dissemination of results to inform sessions with stakeholders. The co-creation approach produced a final product with strong user acceptance. The co‑creation methodology also facilitated meaningful knowledge exchange among participants and enhanced internal reflection and dialogue on disaster preparedness among stakeholders. Completion of the Disaster Preparedness Checklist further revealed areas where preparedness efforts could be strengthened, including enhancing the role of specific sectors (e.g., primary care, public health) and improving communication, early warning systems, and community integration.
These findings highlight the value of co-creation approaches in the disaster preparedness field and underscore their potential to enhance the effectiveness and uptake of health system preparedness tools in the context of climate-related EWEs.

ID: 3.103

The possibilities of participatory early warning systems – experiences from the Arctic alpine area

Seija Tuulentie
Rikkonen, Taru

Abstract/Description

Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of environmental hazards in mountainous areas, including floods, slippery roads, thin ice and avalanches. Information on such hazards is often scattered across multiple platforms and not easily accessible, even though it is crucial for residents, visitors and nature-based livelihoods.

Participatory early warning systems (PEWS) offer new ways to address these communication challenges by enabling the sharing of hazard-related information and engaging citizens in knowledge production. PEWS have the potential to support decision-making by individuals, communities and emergency authorities. In contrast to traditional top-down early warning systems, participatory approaches recognise vulnerable individuals not only as recipients of information but also as important sources of knowledge. Local and tacit knowledge can significantly contribute to understanding hazards and environmental change, particularly in remote regions where nature plays a central role in everyday life. Such approaches may also incorporate indigenous knowledge and citizen science practices.

In the MountResilience project (funded by the Horizon Europe programme), we collected citizen observations using Public Participation GIS (PPGIS) to map perceived environmental changes in Utsjoki and Enontekiö, the northernmost municipalities in Finland. The results indicate that environmental change is widely recognised as significant and that there is a strong perceived need for adaptation.

To move beyond a one-off survey and support continuous knowledge exchange, we further developed a mobile application originally created by the Finnish Environment Institute. The modified app will be adopted by the pilot municipalities of Enontekiö and Utsjoki and enables residents and visitors to share observations and warnings about changing environmental conditions. In Arctic communities, changes in ice and snow conditions are particularly critical, while water quality and availability in wilderness areas are also of concern. The application is flexible and can be adapted for different purposes, which should be defined collaboratively with local communities to ensure relevance, ownership and long-term use.

ID: 3.146

Co‑Designing Science–Practice Collaboration in Long‑Term Socio‑Ecological Research – Listening to change-makers

Hannah Politor
Kirchweger, Stefan; Gaube, Veronika

Abstract/Description

From a socio-ecological research perspective, the interdependence of human-nature relationships is of central importance in identifying the causes and consequences of crisis phenomena and developing strategies for their reduction and adaptation. This research is confronted with complex, socially relevant problems that require not only interdisciplinary approaches, but also the explicit participatory involvement of affected social groups as the conceptual and methodological basis for a transdisciplinary understanding of knowledge. This study synthesizes interviews and a workshop to assess actors’ needs for long-term science–practice collaboration in the LTSER Eisenwurzen platform (Long-Term Socio-Ecological Research Platform). Three themes were developed: (1) Relationship and collaboration: Actors call for collaboration on equal terms with mutual respect for different ways of knowledge production. A high-quality of the participatory process, including flexibility to adapt methods and questions is important. Maintaining relationships should also be a focus outside of specific project collaborations. (2) Benefits and impact: Participation is dependent on perceivable regional value, which ranges from awareness and perspective shifts to concrete guidelines and decision-ready data (e.g., for climate adaptation). Actors request accessible outputs and clear implementation pathways, which are often absent due to design and funding gaps. (3) Exchange within the platform: Limited resources, large distances and other geographical constraints hinder coordination. Actors propose a clearer identity, shared goals, adequate funding, and robust structures to enable regular, results-oriented exchanges and common projects.

In order to facilitate beneficial science-practice collaboration in the LTSER platform Eisenwurzen, it is vital that tools are developed that take those needs into consideration. It was proposed by the actors that an open-access project map and a curated database of projects and results be implemented. Furthermore, the request was made for additional networking activities to facilitate exchange and coordinated project development.

ID: 3.156

Climate Adaptation in Mountain Regions – How Can Justice Be Ensured and Awareness Raised Among Tourism Destinations?

Vanja Krajinović

Abstract/Description

Contemporary society and the environment are vividly and devastatingly confronted with the impacts of climate change. Although we have moved beyond neglecting or ignoring these impacts, the question remains whether our current actions are sufficient. It must be acknowledged, however, that significant progress has been made, particularly in raising awareness of the importance of this issue. This progress is especially relevant for the tourism system, as it both contributes to and suffers from the impacts of climate change. Mountain regions are particularly vulnerable in this regard, and tourism stakeholders have a significant responsibility to create risk scenarios and adaptation strategies to ensure the sustainability of destinations and the prosperity of local communities.

The aim of this research is to address the issue of climate adaptation and risk research in mountain regions of the Republic of Croatia. Through primary research among tourist boards in these areas, the objective is to examine whether, and to what extent, these organisations perceive the importance of developing climate risk scenarios and how they incorporate them into tourism development policies, using a questionnaire as the research instrument. As mountain regions in Croatia do not rely heavily on tourism development, the aim is to address this issue from the perspective of the tourism destination lifecycle. Climate justice is the central concept upon which recommendations for future policies are based, taking sustainability criteria into account. As parts of these regions in Croatia face the challenge of depopulation, incorporating the principles of climate justice emerges as the key strategy for their revitalisation. Given that the new legislative framework has equipped tourist boards with the tools and instruments to monitor and manage tourism development, the scientific contribution of this research lies in linking the level of awareness about the impacts of climate change with the stage of the tourism destination lifecycle, and in addressing the issue of climate justice in tourism development strategies.

ID: 3.155

Engaging stakeholders in climate change adaptation tool design: lessons from a Swiss demonstrator on water management

Côme Brocas
Collaud, Romain; Baez Lugo, Sebastian; Henchoz, Nicolas

Abstract/Description

Within the European project MountResilience, regional demonstrators test experimental climate change adaptation solutions. In the Alpine canton of Valais in Switzerland there is a need for more efficient, informed and transparent decision-making and stronger involvement of stakeholders in water management. What lessons can we learn from our research phases to involve stakeholders in an ethical manner? What were the needs, obstacles, strategies, benefits, and areas of improvement for their inclusion?

Participatory approaches overcome Decision Support System limitations, yielding three benefits: tailored content and usage, trust, and agency. Social sciences have long critiqued participatory ethics—symbolic violence, power imbalances or result restitution. In design, prioritizing user needs employs user-centered approaches and research-through-design (e.g., workshops).

We conducted online semi-structured interviews and workshops, and in situ meetings. We also ran an online evaluative study of our prototype. The latter includes crowdsourced features: field observation reports, and proposals for best practices and nature-based solutions.

Our poster synthesizes our empirical experience throughout the project, with the help of local partners. Understanding local characteristics (economic, hydrological, etc.) has enabled us to better address the specific issues facing each valley. Snowball sampling was an effective method for accessing difficult-to-reach stakeholders but introduced other biases, such as gender parity or the prevalence of interested people. We recommend anticipating seasonal absences (e.g., hay season), the main barrier to including farmers. Online exchanges were efficient, required less investment from both parties, and participants often exceeded the allotted time. Participants were informed that not all their ideas could be included and we noted who wished to be contacted for further studies or results. Showing app sketches allowed them to move beyond concepts to shape the design, features, and UI. Within the app, open participation by posting observations and solutions was considered quite useful, but there was a real need for visible moderation.

This retrospective view will help us propose an ethical tool implementation strategy and provides some guidelines for future design work involving stakeholders for environmental awareness in mountain areas. It would be interesting to measure participants’ perceived benefits after app delivery.

ID: 3.189

Justice as a Lens on Participation in Mountain Risk Research

Eva Posch
Sharma, Sagar Raj

Abstract/Description

Research in mountain regions is increasingly expected to be participatory, collaborative and societally relevant, particularly in the field of climate- and hazard-related risks. These expectations are firmly embedded in research agendas and funding programs. At the same time, there is growing evidence that they are difficult to realize in practice and may reproduce existing power asymmetries if implemented uncritically. This raises questions about justice not only in research outcomes, but in research practice itself.

This contribution draws on qualitative interviews with researchers involved in natural hazard and disaster risk research in Nepal to examine how participation, decision-making power and responsibility are organized in everyday research practice. Rather than treating Nepal as a case comparable to the Alps, the analysis uses these insights to make visible structural conditions that also shape research in many mountain regions, including the European Alps.

The findings suggest that justice concerns often arise not because participation is missing, but because participation, influence and responsibility do not align. local actors and local researchers are expected to engage, share knowledge and manage expectations, key decisions about research questions, methods and outputs remain externally defined. This reveals how procedural, epistemic and distributive dimensions of justice intersect within research processes themselves.

These dynamics are not only ethically relevant. They also affect the relevance, legitimacy and long-term usability of research outputs in hazard and risk governance. By reflecting on these findings, this contribution invites to reconsider how participation and impact are operationalized in other projects. It argues that treating justice as an analytical lens – rather than as a normative add-on – helps to identify where well-intended research practices produce unintended consequences without ignoring the structural constraints under which such research is conducted.

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FS 26.109

Participation, Power and Justice in Hazard and Climate Risk Research

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