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Building a Values-Informed Mental Model for New Orleans Climate Risk Management
Douglas L Bessette1, Lauren A Mayer2, Bryan Cwik3
1School of Environment and Natural Resources, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA.
Summary
Understanding climate risk management (CRM) requires considering individual values. A new Values-informed Mental Model (ViMM) approach reveals how people use economic, ecological, and cultural values to assess climate risks and strategies.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Science
- Social Science
- Decision Science
Background:
- Individual values shape beliefs and understanding in complex situations like climate risk management (CRM).
- Existing mental model approaches often overlook the crucial role of values in assessing climate risks and strategies.
- Climate change presents complex challenges where personal values significantly influence risk perception and decision-making.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and introduce a Values-informed Mental Model (ViMM) research approach.
- To elicit and analyze the values individuals use to understand climate risk factors and CRM strategies.
- To identify how different values influence the assessment of climate risks and management strategies.
Main Methods:
- Developed the Values-informed Mental Model (ViMM) research approach.
- Elicited individual values alongside their beliefs regarding climate risk factors and CRM strategies.
- Analyzed how participants in New Orleans framed their understanding using specific value systems.
Main Results:
- Participants consistently used economic (healthy economy, jobs), ecological (ecosystems, biodiversity), or cultural (New Orleans' unique heritage) values.
- Economic values are commonly considered in CRM, while ecological and cultural values are often overlooked.
- The prioritization of values like justice and fairness varied depending on the specific climate risk or management strategy.
Conclusions:
- The ViMM method is a valuable tool for decision-support processes in CRM.
- Incorporating stakeholder values can lead to more effective and widely adopted CRM strategies.
- Recognizing diverse values, including cultural and ecological, is essential for comprehensive climate risk management.
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