
MECCA
Targeting Mental Models of Climate Change Risk to facilitate Climate Action
Climate change has great implications for Africa. For Africa’s people, climate change is not an abstract phenomenon but a concrete reality that impacts key aspects of everyday life. The MECCA project identifies adaptation and mitigation strategies by analyzing the gap between stakeholder’s perceptions of climate change and risk and projected impacts of human activities under changing climatic conditions in East Africa (Lake Victoria) and West Africa (Lagos).
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We have co-developed tools in collaboration with local stakeholdersto map risk perceptions and mental models of climate change adaptation and mitigation among different stakeholders in East and West Africa
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We develop models and scenarios to assess quantitative and qualitative changesof the relevant processes under future change in East and West Africa
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We integrate natural and social science knowledgeto co-develop pathways to effectively facilitate climate action

About
The MECCA project provides evidence-based recommendations for local adaptation and mitigation policies and climate action, with potential relevance for other regions that cope with similar climate change challenges. In addition, the MECCA project aims for capacity-building through interactive workshops that will enhance stakeholder’s understanding of climate change and provide tools to serve as roadmaps for viable climate action and policy solutions.
Project leader
My name is Maryse Chappin and I am lead principal investigator of the MECCA project. My research focusses on collaboration for sustainable development. My motivation for the project is that it is a great opportunity to bring these partners and natural science and social science knowledge together. It does not only enable us to research this relevant topic, but also create valuable societal impact.
Project consortium
MECCA is a consortium of social and natural scientists and a wide network of local stakeholders in West and East Africa. The consortium is made up of researchers from Utrecht University, the University of Bergen, and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research. The Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development at Utrecht University leads the project. These partners complement each other in expertise and experience. Utrecht University contributes methodological expertise, experience in mental models research, extensive field experience and a broad stakeholder network comprising key decision-makers at Lake Victoria. The University of Bergen contributes experts with extensive international experience in studying public engagement with climate change and strong familiarity with the Lagos case-study. The Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK) complements the team with expertise on hydrological modelling, climate impact assessment, and co-developing scenarios. The involved experts from PIK also have experience with interdisciplinary research in various African countries with local stakeholders.
Funding agencies
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Parent programme
AXIS
Assessment of Cross(X) - sectoral climate Impacts and pathways for Sustainable transformation
The ERA-NET Consortium AXIS (Assessment of Cross(X) - sectoral climate Impacts and pathways for Sustainable transformation) aims to promote cross-boundary, cross-community research with the overall goal to improve coherence, integration and robustness of climate impact research and connect it to societal needs. To this effect, AXIS aims to overcome boundaries between science communities through inter- or transdisciplinary research projects.
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