Guide to researching climate change

Every year, the effects of climate change become increasingly disruptive to our daily lives. But the impact of a changing climate is not experienced in the same way across the world, with some countries and communities enduring more than others.

The collections held by the National Library of Scotland can help you learn about and respond to the climate crisis. Using these resources, individuals and communities can increase their understanding of the climate crisis, build resilience at the local level and, crucially, find avenues of hope for the future.

This guide offers an introduction to researching climate change, as well as signposting some of the key topics within this sizeable subject.

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From maps to manuscripts, rare books to modern periodicals, we have resources to support all forms and areas of research to better understand the changing climate.

Use geological surveys to examine how climate change impacts Scotland's geo-heritage, explore maps which show changes in Scotland's land use over time, investigate historical records of observed climate variations, or engage with contemporary issues of climate justice.

The Library also holds encyclopaedias, handbooks, and academic conference proceedings which define and explain the processes that shape our climate and how these, in turn, impact local environments.

Collection highlights

Living Proof: A climate story

An example of how our collection can be used to enhance and enrich the climate discussion is the film 'Living Proof: a climate story'. 'Living Proof' explores Scotland's complex relationship to the global climate crisis through film and music. Curated archive footage from Scotland's Moving Image Archive tells the interlinked stories of industrialisation, consumerism, energy, and the environment, framing our country's history through the lens of the current debate. You can watch the film onsite at one of our Library buildings.

Correspondence, diaries, photographs and other papers of Seton Gordon

This collection of papers was created by Paul Seton Gordon (1886-1977). Seton Gordon was a naturalist and author, writing many books about Scotland, its mountains, and natural history. Born in Aberdeenshire to a wealthy family, he was fortunate to be able to spend his life studying the creatures and landscapes he loved. His photographs of snow-covered mountains provide a valuable contrast to modern images of environmental conditions.

Environmental and conservation groups in Scotland and the United Kingdom ephemera

This archive of printed leaflets, booklets, handouts, and other ephemera chronicles the efforts of local and national environmental organisations and their respective campaigns for a greener future. Various groups are represented in the collection, ranging in size from local community groups to national organisations. Groups also span different geographies, from the entirety of the United Kingdom to a particular island off the Scottish coast. Ephemera include materials from the Aberdeen Wildlife Group, the Environmental Transport Association, Surfers against Sewage, Millenium Forest for Scotland, and the Islay Natural History Trust.

Printed materials and other ephemera related to the 26th Conference of the Parties (COP26) meeting in Glasgow, from October 31st to November 13th 2021

This collection contains ephemera used during the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was held in Glasgow in 2021. Materials include leaflets, posters, postcards, tickets, cards and other materials used by individuals and organisations in attendance.

Climate change is a big topic. To break it down, here are some things that our collection can help you explore:

• Atmospheric science and climate change

• The impact of human activity on climate change

• Climate change risks and impacts

• Addressing climate change

  • Mitigation

  • Adaptation

  • Climate policy

  • Climate activism

• Climate as living, local knowledge

• Social challenges of climate change

  • Intersectional challenges of climate change

  • Ethical implications of climate change

Where to look and how to find things across our collections, catalogues and formats.

Searching the main catalogue

When searching you can narrow your focus by applying search filters to narrow the scope by availability, resource type, subject, date, and author or creator. Here are some example keywords along with the kinds of results you'll get.

"Climate change" AND rain

Results cover topics like atmospheric circulation, extreme rainfall events, and rainwater chemistry. And by applying filters you could narrow your focus and explore images of changing rainfall patterns, textbooks on satellite precipitation data, modelling periodicals outlining trends in rainfall intensity, or even trade books on mermaids and megalodons.

"Climate change" AND "fossil fuels"

From this search, a variety of resources will emerge covering different topic areas like impacts of fossil fuels on health, climate change and forests, and energy transitions. And by applying search filters you could explore technical reports for energy supply and use, a journal outlining historical coal production since the mid-19th century, or a cartoon introduction to climate change.

"Climate change" AND health 

Can produce resources covering topics like heat exposure, climate change anxiety, and ecotoxicology. And by applying filters you could explore a multidisciplinary introduction to climate risk, a study investigating relationships between climate change and kidney disease, or an atlas of climate change and health.

"Climate change" AND solutions 

Can generate titles covering topics like urban landscape adaptation, carbon governance, or circular economies. And by applying filters you could explore a special issue of essays on nature-based solutions, a BAFTA-nominated film, or even a student dissertation on implementing climate change measures in the EU.

Searching the Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue

Our Manuscript and Archive collections are described differently from our published collections and have their own catalogue to reflect this. Keyword searching the Archives and Manuscripts catalogue will help you find resources.

Search for words such as 'nature', 'environment', 'environmental' or 'climate'. Be aware that each of these can also be used in descriptive contexts other than climate change, e.g. 'political climate'. Other searches may include 'weather', 'meteorology', 'flora AND fauna', or 'coastline'.

You could also search for the names of campaigners such as Marjorie Linklater or Tom Weir.

Searching the Maps Collection

The Library's online map collections can be used to illustrate and understand climate change in a wide variety of ways. Maps provide many insights into historic landscapes and environments, showing power generation, means of travel, fossil fuel extraction and consumption, and coastal erosion and sea-level rise.

Georeferenced historic maps can be overlaid on their present-day location, enabling comparison of change over time. See the map images website climate change research guide for more information.

Searching the Moving Image Archive

Using the Moving Image Archive catalogue you can keyword search the written descriptions of films held by the Library. Some films are available to view online, and others are only available onsite or by request.

Use the same words suggested for the Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue above. Bear in mind that the words may have alternative meanings. Subject headings such as 'Environment, the', and 'Landscapes and seascapes' may also be helpful.

Using eResources

The Library receives thousands of current publications every year, some through legal deposit while others are purchased e-resources. You can use most of our eResources from home for free if you are a Library member and your main address is in Scotland. Millions of pages of journals, e-books, reports, reference works, newspapers, and databases are available.

Examples:

• GreenFILE — An indexing and abstracting database of nearly 300,000 records covering environmental concerns, with full text for selected titles.

• Global Plants — An online research tool for exploring the world's botanical resources.

• Routledge Handbooks Online — Library users have access to more than 100 e-book titles from the 'Environment and Sustainability' collection.

• UK & Scottish newspapers – An archive of local and national newspapers which document changing perspectives on local and global issues, as well as regional insights into changes in weather, culture, and society.

In addition to the unique and valuable collection items housed within the Library itself, we are committed to sustaining research collaborations with other community groups and organisations across the Galleries, Archives, Libraries and Museums (GLAM) sector. If you wish to broaden your engagement with climate change, some relevant sources and spaces for further enquiry might include:

• Climate Museum UK – A collective of artists and educators who develop tools and strategies for effective engagement with climate change issues.

• SCCAN – Scottish Communities Climate Action Network

• Climate Action Hubs – Community projects funded by Scottish Government to help reach Net Zero.

• Culture for Climate Scotland (Resource Guides) – Offers guidance around climate actions which can be taken at the individual level as well as the institutional level, covering areas such as water use, sustainable travel, and environmental policymaking.

• Julie's Bicycle – Non-profit organisation committed to mobilising resources and practitioners across arts and cultural spaces to address the challenges of the climate crisis.

These are just some of the many resources available for engaging with climate change research, and advice on how to translate that research into climate action.

If you have an enquiry about this topic, contact us to ask a question.