Ground truthing climate realities: Community perspectives on climate change impacts, mitigation and adaptation

The project explores how citizen science can serve as a bridge between scientific research and local knowledge by capturing and validating community-level perspectives on climate change impacts, mitigation strategies, and adaptation measures. Spanning a period of three years, the study employs a multi-method approach to gather qualitative and quantitative data, incorporating in-depth interviews, participatory and mapping workshops. These methods will provide a nuanced understanding of how climate change is perceived and experienced at the local level.

A key component of the project involves looking at the collected community insights alongside existing climate models and projections to assess areas of convergence and divergence. This process will help determine the extent to which scientific forecasts align with on-the-ground realities and lived experiences. By integrating local perspectives into broader climate research, the project seeks to highlight knowledge gaps and refine climate adaptation strategies that are both scientifically robust and contextually relevant.

Ultimately, the project aims to amplify community voices in climate discourse, ensuring that local realities are not overlooked in decision-making processes. The findings will contribute to evidence-based policymaking, equipping decision-makers with data-driven insights to design more effective and inclusive climate interventions. Through this work, the project aspires to foster a more participatory and just approach to climate governance, recognising the crucial role of communities in shaping resilient and sustainable responses to environmental change.

The project was awarded a Wits-Tübingen seed grant project titled "From Data to Dignity: How Climate Knowledge Influences Life Chances," which was awarded in August 2025.

Outputs

Related publications

Modiba, M. and Khanyile, S. (2026) Adaptive Governance of Urban Informality in the Face of Climate Change: Street Vendor Practices in Johannesburg, South Africa. Journal of City Climate Policy and Economy, 5(1), https://doi.org/10.3138/jccpe-2025-0026

Events

Research visit to Tubingen

Dr Khanyile travelled to Tübingen from November 30 to December 5 for a research visit. During her time there, Dr Khanyile worked with Prof. Dr Olaf Kühne and Dr Corinna Jenal from the Department of Geography. The team discussed findings from a participatory workshop held in Alexandra township in November 2025. This visit also involved transcribing and digitising hardcopy maps created during the workshop. Additionally, they explored the possibility of incorporating some of these findings into a semester course in the upcoming months. The discussions shifted towards plans to conclude the project by July 2026 and to identify targeted international funding opportunities to support ongoing collaboration.

Photo shows Dr Timo Sedelmeier, Mr Jakob Stock, Mr David Fuhrmann, Prof. Dr Dr. Olaf Kühne, Dr Samkelisiwe Khanyile, Ms Diana Strauß and Dr Corinna Jenal outside the University of Tübingen Department of Geography. (Photo credit: Unknown student).

Data to Dignity workshop in Alexandra

The project, as part of the 'Data to Dignity' seed grant, hosted a workshop in Alexandra township on Tuesday, 11 November 2026. The primary purpose of the workshop was to gather information about how perceptions of climate change influence life chances. The workshop was convened in collaboration with the University of Tubingen.

Inclusive Cities Conference

In September, Dr Mamokete Modiba and Dr Samkelisiwe Khanyile attended the University of KwaZulu-Natal's Inclusive Cities Conference from 9 to 12 September 2025. They convened and led a panel session, entitled “Resilience from the Margins: Rethinking Informality in Climate Adaptation,” to challenge a fundamental assumption: that informal settlements are simply problems to be solved rather than sources of knowledge for climate adaptation. The panel, held on the third day of the conference, set the stage for a lively and critical dialogue. The session spoke directly to the conference theme: Resilient Cities and Communities: Adapting to Climate Change and Beyond.

Last updated: 22 May 2026