Building relationships between First Nations Peoples and Western scientists to increase capacity to understand, respond and adapt to climate change

Damian Morgan-Bulled; Rowena Bullio; Torres Webb; Sonia Cooper; Jonathon Green; Mandy Hopkins; Kathleen McInnes; Neil Holbrook; Guy Jackson; Dewi Kirono; Simon Marsland; Marian Sheppard; Christine Chung; Rangi Clubb; Thomas Clubb; Samarla Deshong; Cass Hunter; Dan Joseph; Learna Langworthy; Djungan Neal; Leah Talbot; Sharon Cavanagh-Luskin; Josep Canadell; Moni Carlisle; Gareth Catt; Jason Evans; Birrin Hooper; David Karoly; Hamish Ramsay; Ro Hill

doi:10.1071/ES24048

RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Building relationships between First Nations Peoples and Western scientists to increase capacity to understand, respond and adapt to climate change

Damian Morgan-Bulled ^A ^* , Rowena Bullio ^B , Torres Webb ^C , Sonia Cooper ^D , Jonathon Green ^E , Mandy Hopkins ^F , Kathleen McInnes ^A , Neil Holbrook

^F , Guy Jackson ^G , Dewi Kirono ^A , Simon Marsland

^A , Marian Sheppard ^A , Christine Chung

^H , Rangi Clubb ^I , Thomas Clubb ^I , Samarla Deshong ^J , Cass Hunter ^K , Dan Joseph ^I , Learna Langworthy ^L , Djungan Neal ^M , Leah Talbot ^N , Sharon Cavanagh-Luskin ^O , Josep Canadell ^P , Moni Carlisle ^Q , Gareth Catt ^R , Jason Evans

^S , Birrin Hooper ^T , David Karoly ^U , Hamish Ramsay ^A and Ro Hill

^V

+ Author Affiliations

- Author Affiliations

^A CSIRO, Environment, Aspendale, Vic., Australia.

^B Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Cairns, Qld, Australia.

^C CSIRO, Indigenous Engagement Office, Cairns, Qld, Australia.

^D Yorta Yorta Nation Aboriginal Corporation, Barmah, Vic., Australia.

^E Indigenous Land and Sea Corporation, Adelaide, SA, Australia.

^F University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tas., Australia.

^G Department of Social Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle, UK.

^H Bureau of Meteorology, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.

^I Gambir Yidinji Cultural Heritage and Protection Officers, Cairns, Qld, Australia.

^J Koinmerburra Aboriginal Corporation, Mackay, Qld, Australia.

^K CSIRO, Environment, Cairns, Qld, Australia.

^L South East Tasmanian Aboriginal Corporation, Nipaluna, Lutruwita, Tas., Australia.

^M Yarrabah, Qld, Australia.

^N Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Cairns, Qld, Australia.

^O Illuminate-FNQ Ltd, Cairns, Qld, Australia.

^P CSIRO, Environment, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

^Q Torres Strait Regional Authority, Thursday Island, Qld, Australia.

^R Indigenous Desert Alliance, West Perth, WA, Australia.

^S Climate Change Research Centre, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia.

^T Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water, Canberra, ACT, Australia.

^U Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Vic., Australia.

^V Division of Tropical Environments and Societies, James Cook University, Cairns, Qld, Australia.

^* Correspondence to: damian.bulled@csiro.au

Handling Editor: Steven Siems

Journal of Southern Hemisphere Earth Systems Science 75, ES24048 https://doi.org/10.1071/ES24048

Submitted: 5 December 2024 Accepted: 11 August 2025 Published: 8 September 2025

© 2025 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of the Bureau of Meteorology. This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License (CC BY-NC-ND)

Abstract

Warning: Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this paper contains name(s) of deceased person(s).

First Nations and their People have stressed to Western scientists that Country is in distress and traditional knowledge is key to mitigating the impacts of climate change. Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Knowledge Methods used to read land and seascapes are intrinsically linked to climate by First Nations peoples and embedded in cultural practice passed down and entrusted across generations. Articles 2, 3, 4 and 5 of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples identify that all risks that threaten the continuation of cultural practice and obligation to maintain, strengthen and protect cultural knowledge infringe peoples’ right to exist. Our most recent dialogue, the National First Peoples Gathering on Climate Change held in Cairns in 2021, investigated whether building connections with and among First Nations peoples and Western scientists had the potential to acknowledge and respect both knowledge systems for the benefit of all. Four key practices were applied to build a culturally safe space at the Gathering: (i) Indigenous governance; (ii) cultural protocols and co-design; (iii) deeply respectful partnerships for weaving knowledge; and (iv) Indigenous networks. Building connections among First Nations Peoples proved highly empowering. First Nations Peoples found the Gathering useful for synthesising and elevating a shared agenda woven across knowledge systems. Different perspectives shared on the impacts of climate change on people and Country built a mutual understanding, acknowledgement and respect, thereby building useability of both knowledge systems. Learnings from the Gathering are practical outcomes that First Peoples are sharing with communities. Several risks were also identified including: differing intergroup opinions about priorities, difficulty in understanding technical complexities, and in some instances, rejection of the worth of Western science. However, the Gathering allowed a space for creativity and recognition that climate justice is founded on respect and recognition for First Nations Peoples’ leadership and cultural authority.

Keywords: agency, caring for Country, climate adaptation, climate change, climate risks, co-production, Indigenous knowledge systems, Indigenous partnerships, Traditional Owners.

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