Adaptation to Climate Change

Bedsworth, Louise; Hanak, Ellen

doi:10.1080/01944363.2010.502047

Cited by 129 publications

(31 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…Responding to climate change requires a high level of strategic planning to ensure that institutional and legal structures are in place, particularly to support adaptive practices (Blanco et al 2009, Bedsworth andHanak 2010). This planning needs to occur at multiple levels of governance to ensure that it is effective, and opportunities to nest short-term decisions on infrastructure for example into longer term frameworks should be encouraged (Stafford-Smith et al 2011).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Forums and Multilevel Governance on the Climate Adaptation Practices of Australian Organizations

Bates

Green

Leonard

et al. 2013

E&S

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ABSTRACT. To date, there are few regulations and policies relating to climate change in Australia. Uncertainty about the timing, structure, and potential impact of proposed legislation such as a national carbon abatement scheme, is leading to planning delays across the country. To assist with these policy uncertainties, organizations can embed themselves in multilevel governance frameworks that inform, structure, and facilitate strategic development, planning, and action. As part of these networks, organizational representatives also engage in formal and informal forums, a type of interorganizational relationship, which can include industry task forces, policy development committees, interagency groups, and specific climate change committees. Forums constitute an additional level of governance that influences decision making.The patterns of relationships within these multilevel governance frameworks are examined in this paper, with a focus on the forum level of organizational cooperation. Specifically, we investigate the type of forums operating and their role in supporting organizational responses to climate change. A series of interviews and focus groups were conducted in two study areas, the Swan Canning region of Western Australia and the Hunter / Central Coast region of New South Wales. The results indicate that organizations participate in a diverse range of forums. Further, forums appear to play a key role in the everyday business of organizations by enhancing their ability to plan and address a range of issues, including those associated with climate change. In addition the research highlights some of the barriers and drivers for the development and implementation of climate adaptation practices that emerge from forum discussions. For example, a lack of government guidance in interpreting climate change policy was described as a barrier yet access to the knowledge and expertise of participants was highlighted as a potential driver. The paper discusses how an ability to create new forums and utilize existing nonclimate related forums assists organizations in addressing climate change impacts. We contend that forums constitute a level of governance deeply embedded in organizational practice that influences both their capacity and motivation to undertake climate adaptation. Our findings suggest that research investigating the rules that govern forums and the structural properties of the networks in which they are embedded is required to further understand the role of multilevel governance in shaping organizational responses to climate change.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Influence of Forums and Multilevel Governance on the Climate Adaptation Practices of Australian Organizations

Bates

Green

Leonard

et al. 2013

E&S

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“…While roughly 40% of the zoning ordinances include "solar energy systems" as a regulatory item, "wind energy systems" and "green buildings" were present in only about half that many ordinances. These fi ndings may be due to the unique and inherent diffi culty that has been associated with the adoption of policies related to climate change, the issue to which this principle is directly tied (Bedsworth & Hanak, 2010;Burch, 2009;Dunlap & McCright, 2011). It may also be that regulatory decisions about alternatives to fossil fuel are driven more by the nature of a given technology and the efforts of the advocates of that technology than by a general commitment to the principle of reducing the use of fossil fuels.…”

Section: Regulatory Item Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Zoning for Sustainability: A Review and Analysis of the Zoning Ordinances of 32 Cities in the United States

Jepson

Haines

2014

Journal of the American Planning Association

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Problem, research strategy, and fi ndings: To understand how communities use zoning ordinances to achieve sustainability goals, we identify nine sustainability principles and 53 associated regulatory items that might be included in a zoning ordinance to achieve sustainable development and then examine the zoning ordinances of 32 randomly selected communities to determine if they included these principles and their associated items. We fi nd both wide variation and some consistency in how zoning ordinances address sustainability goals, independent of city size or location in the country. Some of the identifi ed principles and regulatory items are found in many ordinances; others appear in only a few. However, there is an inverse relationship between the age of the ordinance and the extent to which it includes sustainability principles. As ordinances are updated, it is likely that they will address more topical sustainability concerns. We study only ordinance content, not implementation; moreover, sustainability can be achieved in ways other than zoning. However, zoning ordinances that directly address sustainability in many dimensions are more likely to achieve these goals. We conclude that planners can more effectively use zoning ordinances to achieve sustainable development. Takeaway for practice: This review of zoning ordinances can alert local planners to the many ways in which zoning ordinances could be used to achieve sustainability goals and suggest how planners can assess the contribution of their zoning ordinance to the sustainable development of their communities. Keywords: sustainability, sustainable development, land use regulations, zoning, planning strategy About the authors: Edward J. Jepson, Jr., AICP (ejepson@uoregon.edu), is an adjunct professor in the Department of Planning, Zoning for Sustainability A Review and Analysis of the Zoning Ordinances of 32 Cities in the United StatesEdward J. Jepson, Jr., and Anna L. Haines S ustainable development has been characterized as balancing the "three Es" of ecology (or environment), equity, and economy, a characterization that has received considerable attention in the planning literature (see Berke, 2002;Campbell, 1996;Jepson, 2004; Saha & Paterson, 2008). Publications focused on sustainability often begin with common defi nitions of sustainability, such as the oft-quoted Brundtland Report: "Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs" (World Commission on Environment and Development, 1987, p. 8).However, we fi nd little focus in the planning literature on the integration of sustainability into planning implementation tools such as zoning ordinances. The aim of this research is to gain a sense of how U.S. communities include sustainability principles in their zoning ordinances to help them achieve their sustainability development goals. Among communities in the United States that have adopted sustainability goals, to what extent do zoning ordin...

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“…IT has been essential in supporting the scientific study, engineering and modelling of climate change and continues to do so. It is also being used to support a range of activities involving adaptive responses to threats of environmental degradation (Bedsworth andHanak, 2010, Francisco, 2008).…”

Section: Factor 2a Activities Producing and Modelling Information Formentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovative ICT‐mediated activities for people, profit and planet

Hasan

Meloche

2013

European Journal of Innovation Management

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Purpose -Solutions to complex environmental problems rely on the innovative knowledge and expertise of many professions whose members accept their responsibilities towards the environment. The study described here canvases Information Systems (IS) professionals for their perspectives, knowledge and expertise within the domains of Green IT and Green IS.Design/methodology/approach -Following a review of the Green IT and IS literature, two topics were identified for a Q-study conducted among IS professionals: Topic 1 focussed on which technologies, systems and applications offer the greatest opportunity in solving environmental problems, and Topic 2 on what sets of issues affect these green opportunities. Activity Theory was used to interpret the factors emerging from the Q-study.Findings -Three categories of activities were identified on Topic 1 involving ICT support for "teleworking and teleconferencing", "monitoring, optimising, and modelling" and influencing human understanding and behaviour". The Topic 2 responses were quite varied.Research limitations/implications -A Q-study is both subjective and exploratory not seeking consensus but rather the breadth of opinion on a topic. The findings on topic 1 indicate three directions for future research and topic 2 identified many issues to consider in pursuing Green outcomes.Practical implications -The varied issues identified on Topic 2 reveal the interconnection of environmental projects with economic and social issues.Originality/value -Following this study of IS professionals we call on other professions to consider applying the expertise of their respective fields to the environmental cause. AbstractPurpose: Solutions to complex environmental problems rely on the innovative knowledge and expertise of many professions whose members accept their responsibilities towards the environment. The study described here canvases Information Systems (IS) professionals for their perspectives, knowledge and expertise within the domains of Green IT and Green IS.Design/methodology/approach Following a review of the Green IT and IS literature, two topics were identified for a Q-study conducted among IS professionals: Topic 1 focussed on which technologies, systems and applications offer the greatest opportunity in solving environmental problems, and Topic 2 on what sets of issues affect these green opportunities. Activity Theory was used to interpret the factors emerging from the Q-study.Findings: Three categories of activities were identified on Topic 1 involving ICT support for "teleworking and teleconferencing", "monitoring, optimising, and modelling" and influencing human understanding and behaviour". The Topic 2 responses were quite varied. Research limitations/implications:A Q-study is both subjective and exploratory not seeking consensus but rather the breadth of opinion on a topic. The findings on topic 1 indicate three directions for future research and topic 2 identified many issues to consider in pursuing Green outcomes. Practical implications:The three Topi...

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Adaptation to Climate Change

Cited by 129 publications

References 33 publications

The Influence of Forums and Multilevel Governance on the Climate Adaptation Practices of Australian Organizations

The Influence of Forums and Multilevel Governance on the Climate Adaptation Practices of Australian Organizations

Zoning for Sustainability: A Review and Analysis of the Zoning Ordinances of 32 Cities in the United States

Innovative ICT‐mediated activities for people, profit and planet

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