Call for chapters: Reclaiming the climate agenda: Indigenous knowledge and global sustainability

Editors: Dr Jabulani Garwi and Professor Carlos Cadena-Gaitan

How to submit

Background

The global climate crisis demands transformative solutions, yet current policies are often driven by market-oriented, technocratic frameworks that marginalise alternative knowledge systems (Sharma, 2021). Indigenous communities, despite being stewards of some of the world’s most biodiverse regions, remain largely excluded from climate discussions (Ngcamu, 2023). Their time-tested knowledge offers crucial insights for ecological balance and sustainability (Leal et al., 2022). Reclaiming the Climate Agenda: Indigenous Knowledge and Global Sustainability seeks to address this gap by advocating for the integration of indigenous perspectives into global climate strategies.

Indigenous knowledge systems have long promoted practices that foster ecological harmony, including sustainable agriculture, water management, and biodiversity conservation (Ngcamu, 2023). However, these communities, often the most vulnerable to climate change, are typically left out of global governance structures (Sultana, 2022). This exclusion not only perpetuates injustice but also disregards the potential of indigenous knowledge in strengthening climate resilience (Cadena-Gaitan et. al., 2024). This volume aims to challenge the historical and ongoing marginalisation of indigenous knowledge, positioning it as an essential component of global sustainability efforts.

While international platforms like the UNFCCC and IPCC are beginning to acknowledge the value of indigenous perspectives (Okedele, 2024), this book advocates for a deeper integration of these insights into climate policy and practice. The book presents indigenous knowledge not as supplementary, but as central to addressing climate challenges. It includes case studies where indigenous practices have successfully been integrated with scientific methods to create effective climate solutions. By promoting epistemological pluralism, the volume proposes inclusive climate governance models that involve indigenous communities as equal partners in decision-making.

Reclaiming the Climate Agenda offers fresh perspectives on climate justice, urging a holistic, inclusive approach to sustainability. The book’s core message is a call to policymakers, researchers, and climate practitioners to adopt strategies that incorporate indigenous knowledge into the fight against climate change, providing a roadmap for a just and sustainable future. This work challenges the dominant Western climate framework, advocating for the inclusion of indigenous knowledge systems in global climate action. It emphasises the vital role of indigenous practices in offering practical solutions to the climate crisis, calling for their central role in shaping climate policy and governance.

Proposed chapter themes:

• Introduction: Reclaiming the Climate Agenda: Indigenous Knowledge and Global Sustainability
• Indigenous Knowledge Systems: A Key to Climate Resilience
• Climate Justice: Addressing Historical Inequities in Climate Governance
• Colonial Legacies and Their Impact on Global Climate Policy
• Epistemological Pluralism: Bridging Indigenous Knowledge and Western Science
• Epistemological Comparisons: Contrasting Indigenous Knowledge, Western Science, and Education for Sustainable Development
• Contrasting Traditions: Indigenous Knowledge and Modernity’s Paradigm Shift
• The Role of Arts and Indigenous Practices in More Climate Resilient Societies
• Indigenous Agricultural Practices and Sustainability
• Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Economic Development
• Reconnecting with Nature: Indigenous Perspectives on Biodiversity and Conservation
• Climate Action from an Indigenous Gender Perspective
• Indigenous Water Management Practices and Climate Adaptation
• Indigenous Rights and the Global Climate Governance Framework
• Decolonising Climate Action: Integrating Indigenous Knowledge into Policy Frameworks
• Indigenous Knowledge in Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience Building
• Ethical Considerations in Collaborating with Indigenous Communities
• Indigenous Leadership in Global Sustainability Initiatives
• Building Partnerships Between Indigenous Communities and Climate Action Stakeholders
• Indigenous Knowledge, Technology, and Climate Innovation
• Policy Recommendations for Mainstreaming Indigenous Knowledge in Global Sustainability
• Moving Forward: A Global Call to Action for Climate Justice

Note:  Contributors may propose related themes beyond the listed ones.

Proposed chapter structure:

1. Abstract (max. 500 words)
2. Introduction
3. Theoretical Development
4. Literature Review/Related Studies
5. Research Methodology
6. Results
7. Discussion
8. Implications (for theory, policy, and practice)
9. Study Limitations
10. Conclusion
11. References (APA 7th Edition style)

Spellings: Please follow the Oxford English Dictionary style.
Format: All submissions must be in MS Word format, original, unpublished, and not submitted elsewhere for publication.

Chapter abstracts should include:

• Chapter Title
• Author(s) Title and Contact Information (affiliation, address, and email)
• Context, Research Problem, Research Questions, Research Significance
• Research Methods and Frameworks
• Key Findings and Theoretical and Practical Implications
• A short biography of the author(s) (maximum 100 words).

Proposed writing schedule

Extended Chapter Abstracts Submission Deadline (500 words): 30 April 2025
Acceptance Notifications Sent: 10 May 2025
Full Chapter Submission Deadline: 15 August 2025
Peer Review & Editorial Feedback: 15 August – 30 September 2025
Revised Chapters Submission Deadline: 15 October 2025
Final Editing & Compilation: 16 – 30 October 2025
Submission of Full Manuscript to Publisher: 1 November 2025
Estimated Publication Date: May 2026
How to submit

Cited References:
Cadena-Gaitán, C., Flórez-Muñoz, C., Ospina, L., Solar-Ruíz, A., & Cardona, A. (2024). Apropiación social del conocimiento sobre cambio climático: La experiencia de las expediciones climáticas. Bitácora Urbano Territorial, 34(2), 125–135.

Leal Filho, W., Barbir, J., Gwenzi, J., Ayal, D., Simpson, N. P., Adeleke, L., & Yaffa, S. (2022). The role of indigenous knowledge in climate change adaptation in Africa. Environmental Science & Policy, 136, 250-260.

Ngcamu, B. S. (2023). Climate change effects on vulnerable populations in the Global South: a systematic review. Natural Hazards, 118(2), 977-991.

Okedele, P. O., Aziza, O. R., Oduro, P., & Ishola, A. O. (2024). Integrating indigenous knowledge systems into global climate adaptation policies. Int J Eng Res Dev, 20(12), 223-31.

Sharma, A. (2021). Decolonizing international relations: Confronting erasures through indigenous knowledge systems. International Studies, 58(1), 25-40.

Sultana, F. (2022). The unbearable heaviness of climate coloniality. Political Geography, 99, 102638.

About the Editors

Dr Jabulani Garwi is an academic researcher, diplomat, and development practitioner specialising in sustainable development, climate change, sustainable agriculture, and African development studies. Affiliated with the University of the Free State, South Africa, Dr Garwi has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and is indexed in leading databases such as Scopus. His interdisciplinary expertise, supported by a PhD in Sustainable Agriculture, positions him as a valuable contributor to the advancement of sustainable development in Africa.

Professor Carlos Cadena-Gaitan, Ph.D. is a multi-award-winning sustainability expert and researcher. He is an Associate Professor at EAFIT University and former Transport Commissioner of Medellin, Colombia. A co-founder of various civil society initiatives including Low Carbon City and Humanese.co, Professor Cadena-Gaitan is an influential figure in global sustainability discussions, including his role as the Regional Studies Association (RSA) Ambassador to Colombia.

Note: Potential authors may be approached to serve as reviewers for the book.