The Role of Academic Libraries in Supporting Climate Action: A Systematic Literature Review
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.26437/hz2emp55Keywords:
Climate action. digital. green academic libraries. green open educational resources. sustainabilityAbstract
Purpose: This study examines the role of academic libraries in supporting climate action, exploring how library resources, services, and institutional positioning contribute to climate literacy, sustainability education, and environmental advocacy within higher education.
Design/Methodology/Approach: The PRISMA guidelines were used to systematically review relevant literature. The researchers sourced relevant literature from five scholarly databases (ACM Digital Library, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, Library Information Science and Technology Abstracts (LISTA), and Scopus) from 2000 to 2024. A total of 129 articles were retrieved and reviewed for quality and relevance, but only ten (10) relevant records were included, satisfying the inclusion criteria.
Research Limitation: The results were limited to 10 studies on the role of academic libraries in supporting climate action. The study was further restricted to English-language publications.
Findings: The study identified categories such as curated climate-focused collections, green library initiatives, awareness programmes, climate and sustainability literacy, advocacy and policy engagement, green open educational resources, digital repositories, and research and data support to better understand the evolving role of academic libraries in supporting climate action.
Practical Implication: The practical implication is that academic libraries must curate inclusive and diverse climate change collections and enhance access to ‘Green Open Educational Resources’ (GOERs) and digital repositories to support sustainable research and climate action among users.
Social Implication: The paper proposes establishing a climate data laboratory in academic libraries, encouraging the development of green open educational resources for sustainability, and advancing sustainability initiatives across the curriculum.
Originality/Value: This study offers a systematic and comprehensive synthesis by consolidating relevant literature on how academic libraries support climate action and resilience through their resources, collections, and services.
References
Adetayo, A. J. (2022). News Sources and Climate Change Attitude among Students: Implications for Libraries. The Serials Librarian, 83(3–4), 215–227. https://doi.org/10.1080/0361526X.2023.2191658 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/0361526X.2023.2191658
Adjei, S., Mensah, K., & Boateng, R. (2025). Green library practices and environmental awareness in African academic libraries. Environmental Reports, 7(2), 119–123. https://doi.org/10.51470/ER.2025.7.2.119 DOI: https://doi.org/10.51470/ER.2025.7.2.119
Appleton, L. & Woolley, N. (2023). The Role of Academic Libraries in Climate Action, New Review of Academic Librarianship, 29:2, 117-122, https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2023.2230652 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2023.2230652
Ashiq, M., & Warraich, N. F. (2022). A systematized review on data librarianship literature: Current services, challenges, skills, and motivational factors. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, 55(2), 414- 433.
https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006221083675 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006221083675
Ashiq, M., Rehman, S. U., & Mujtaba, G. (2020). Future challenges and emerging role of academic libraries in Pakistan: A phenomenology approach. Information Development, 37(1), 158-173. https://doi.org/10.1177/0266666919897410 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/0266666919897410
Aytac, S. (2022). Libraries as Agents of Climate Change Literacy. 87th IFLA World Library and Information Congress (WLIC), Environment, Sustainability and Libraries (ENSULIB), 22–23. https://repository.ifla.org/handle/123456789/2076
Bangani, S. & Dube, L. (2024). Academic libraries and the actualisation of Sustainable Development Goals two, three and thirteen. Journal of Librarianship and Information Science, Vol. 56(3) 773 –784. https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006231174650 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/09610006231174650
Bincy, O. K. & Vasudevan, T. M. (2023). Environmental sustainability: Awareness and practices among library professionals in University of Calicut. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 49(4). 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2023.102748 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2023.102748
Charney, M., & Hauke, P. (2020). Global action on the urgency of climate change: Academic and research libraries’ contributions. College & Research Libraries News, 81(3), 114. https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.81.3.114 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5860/crln.81.3.114
Demirtas Dogan, H., & Gurpinar, B. (2023). Green Libraries and the User’s Perspective: A Case Study in Turkey. SAGE Open, 13(4). https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231211432 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/21582440231211432
Dwinggo Samala, A., Usmeldi, T. A., Bojić, L., Indarta, Y., Tsoy, D., Denden, M., ... &
Parma Dewi, I. (2023). Metaverse technologies in education: A systematic literature review using PRISMA. International Journal of Emerging Technologies in Learning (iJET), 18(5). DOI: https://doi.org/10.3991/ijet.v18i05.35501
Goldman, B. (2024). Understanding and Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Academic Libraries. portal: Libraries and the Academy 24(1), 7- 19.
https://dx.doi.org/10.1353/pla.2024.a916987. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1353/pla.2024.a916987
Hamad, F., Elfadel, M., Fakhouri, H. & Abu-Qaadan, A. (2024). Advancing Climate Change Literacy: Are Academic Libraries Part of the Solution?, New Review of Academic Librarianship, 30(4), 345-367 https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2024.2369503 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/13614533.2024.2369503
Hickman, C. (2020). We need to (find a way to) talk about … Eco-anxiety. Journal of Social Work Practice, 34(4), 411–424. https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2020.1844166 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02650533.2020.1844166
Kornfeind, M. (2022). Advocacy and Action: How Libraries Across the Globe are Addressing Climate Change. World Libraries, 26(1). 1–14. https://worldlibraries.dom.edu/index.php/worldlib/article/view/594
Krairiksh, K. & Choksuchat, C. (2021). Awareness of Green Academic Library by KYL Dashboard towards Sustainable Digital University, 2nd SEA-STEM International Conference (SEA-STEM), pp. 108–111,
https://doi.org/10.1109/SEA-STEM53614.2021.9668054. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1109/SEA-STEM53614.2021.9668054
Lahyani, K., Diabb, G, & Moukhliss, G. (2024). Role of Academic Libraries in the Achievement of Sustainable Development Goals Case Study: The Mohamed Sekkat University Library. Procedia Computer Science 236, 566–573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2024.05.067 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.procs.2024.05.067
Lusiana, E., Yanto, A., Nursari, T., Samson, C. M. S., & Suryadi, D. F. (2024). The
contribution of community-based libraries in climate action to strengthen the face of climate change supports the SDGs. Journal of Law and Sustainable Development, 12(1). 1-22. https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v12i1.2022 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55908/sdgs.v12i1.2022
Martin, G., Reilly, K., Everitt, H., & Gilliland, J. A. (2022). Review: The impact of climate change awareness on children's mental well-being and negative emotions - a scoping review. Child and adolescent mental health, 27(1), 59–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12525 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1111/camh.12525
Mohammed, L. (2024). Effect of Climate Change on Information Resources in Academic Libraries: A Case Study of Federal University Lokoja and Prince Abubakar Audu University in Kogi State Nigeria. Lokoja Journal of Information Science Research, 2(2), 133-147. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.14784303
Mwanzu, A., Bosire-Ogechi, E., & Odero, D. (2022). The Emergence of Green Libraries in Kenya: Insights from Academic Libraries. Journal of Academic Librarianship, 49(5), 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102601. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102601
Naik, G. (2024). Protecting knowledge, protecting nature: The role of academic libraries in promoting climate change awareness and environmental responsibility. Journal of Environmental Nanotechnology, 13(4), 202–207. https://doi.org/10.13074/jent.2024.12.2441109 DOI: https://doi.org/10.13074/jent.2024.12.2441109
Oshinaike, A. B., & Saidu, D. (2024). The Role of Libraries in Climate Resilience: Building Sustainable Information Hubs. International Journal of Library Science, 10(3), 101–115.
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., Akl, E. A., Brennan, S. E., Chou, R., Glanville, J., Grimshaw, J. M., Hróbjartsson, A., Lalu, M. M., Li, T., Loder, E. W., Mayo- Wilson, E., McDonald, S., McGuinness, L. A., …& Moher, D. (2021). The
PRISMA 2020 statement: an updated guideline for reporting systematic reviews. British Medical Journal, 372(71), https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.n71
Page, M. J., McKenzie, J. E., Bossuyt, P. M., Boutron, I., Hoffmann, T. C., Mulrow, C. D., Shamseer, L., Tetzlaff, J. M., & Moher, D. (2021). Updating guidance for reporting systematic reviews: development of the PRISMA 2020 statement. Journal of Clinical Epidemiology, 134, 103–112. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.02.003 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinepi.2021.02.003
Rachman, Y. & Ratnasari, W. (2022). Academic Libraries’ Sustainable Preservation and Conservation Practices. Preservation, Digital Technology & Culture, 51(3), 121–
129. https://doi.org/10.1515/pdtc-2022-0024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/pdtc-2022-0024
Rose, J., & Johnson, C. W. (2020). Contextualizing reliability and validity in qualitative research: toward more rigorous and trustworthy qualitative social science in leisure research. Journal of Leisure Research, 51(4), 432–451. https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2020.1722042 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00222216.2020.1722042
Shamseer, L., Moher, D., Clarke, M., Ghersi, D., Liberati, A., Petticrew, M., ... & Stewart,
L. A. (2015). Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) 2015: elaboration and explanation. Bmj, 349. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.g7647
Tribelhorn, S. K. (2023). Preliminary Investigation of Sustainability Awareness and Activities among Academic Librarians in the United States. The Journal of Academic Librarianship, 49(3), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102661 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.acalib.2022.102661
Trotter, M., & Komarnytska, O. (2023). Climate Change Considerations in Public Library Collection Development. Pathfinder: A Canadian Journal for Information Science Students and Early Career Professionals, 4(1), 209–215. https://doi.org/10.29173/pathfinder72 DOI: https://doi.org/10.29173/pathfinder72
United Nations. (2021). Climate Action Fast Facts. Climate Action. https://www.un.org/en/climatechange/science/key-findings
Xie, Z., Man, W., Liu, C., & Fu, X. (2023). A PRISMA-based systematic review of
measurements for school bullying. Adolescent research review, 8(2), 219-259. https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-022-00194-5 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40894-022-00194-5
Zárate Rueda, R., Lésmes Peralta, J. C. & Beltrán Villamizar, Y. I. (2025). Technological Tools and Inclusive Pedagogy for Students with Disabilities in Higher Education: A Systematic Review. Revista de Investigación Educativa, 43. ahttps://doi.org/10.6018/rie.590831 DOI: https://doi.org/10.6018/rie.590831
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 AFRICAN JOURNAL OF APPLIED RESEARCH
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
By submitting and publishing your articles in the African Journal of Applied Research, you agree to transfer the copyright of the Article from the authors to the Journal ( African Journal of Applied Research).
