The report, produced by the Joint Research Centre of the European commission, explores the intricate relationship between culture and resilience in the context of European heritage. Under the basic assumption that national climate change risk and vulnerability are closely linked with a country’s resilience to climate change, it analysed how some aspects of culture are related to risk and vulnerability. In particular, iIndividualism/collectivism, religiousness and cultural heterogeneity are the cultural aspects analysed.
The report stresses how these aspects, together with historical contingencies, institutions, and social norms influence consistently correlated with standard risk and vulnerability measures. Following this thread, The researchers provide insights into the quantitative analysis of cultural dimensions, resilience measures, and climate change risks. They examine how cultural factors can either facilitate or hinder the community’s ability to cope with environmental threats.
Moreover, further inquiry revealed that religiousness, and to a lesser extent cultural heterogeneity, can contribute to explaining national differences in resilience, promoting or slowing down a discussion on climate change resilience strategies. The researchers’ hypothesis envisages that culture influences trust and a society’s propensity to cooperate, which are important inputs for resilience. Consequently, the report highlights the importance of building trust, communication, and strong institutions in diverse cultural settings to foster cooperation and enhance overall resilience.
