Climate change adaptation frameworks: an evaluation of plans for coastal, Suffolk, UK

Abstract

Abstract. This paper asserts that three principal frameworks for climate change adaptation can be recognised in the literature: Scenario-Led (SL), Vulnerability-Led (VL) and Decision–Centric (DC) frameworks. A criterion is developed to differentiate these frameworks in recent adaptation projects. The criterion features six key hallmarks as follows: (1) use of climate model information; (2) analysis metrics/units; (3) socio-economic knowledge; (4) stakeholder engagement; (5) adaptation implementation mechanisms; (6) tier of adaptation implementation. The paper then tests the validity of this approach using adaptation projects on the Suffolk coast, UK. Fourteen adaptation plans were identified in an online survey. They were analysed in relation to the hallmarks outlined above and assigned to an adaptation framework. The results show that while some adaptation plans are primarily SL, VL or DC, the majority are hybrid showing a mixture of DC/VL and DC/SL characteristics. Interestingly, the SL/VL combination is not observed, perhaps because the DC framework is intermediate and attempts to overcome weaknesses of both SL and VL approaches. The majority (57 %) of adaptation projects generated a risk assessment or advice notes. Further development of this type of framework analysis would allow better guidance on approaches for organisations when implementing climate change adaptation initiatives, and other similar proactive long-term planning.

Climate change and water‐related ecosystem services: impacts of drought in california, usa

“…To come up with effective place‐based climate adaptation strategies, a hybrid approach is needed that combines top‐down with bottom‐up approaches, with an active consultation of regional stakeholders at multiple stages (Armstrong et al. ). The top‐down approach, which is a dominant paradigm of most scientific research, starts from regional climate downscaling of global climate models under different greenhouse gas emission scenarios and then feed in the downscaled scenarios into impact assessment models.…”

“…The engagement process is thus largely collaborative in nature, and involving parties can update the framework easily as socio‐ecological conditions that affect climate‐related risk changes (Armstrong et al. ). Fig.…”

“…A hybrid approach to climate adaptation in sustaining water ecosystem services (some key ideas are based on Armstrong et al. ).…”