Increasing information usability for climate adaptation: The role of knowledge networks and communities of practice

Kalafatis, Scott E.; Lemos, Maria Carmen; Lo, Yun Jia; Frank, Kenneth A.

doi:10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2015.02.007

Cited by 95 publications

(51 citation statements)

References 33 publications

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“…This will eliminate duplication of effort and also ensure maximization of the number of available extension personnel in the area. As reported by Kalafatis et al (2015) and Ochieng (2009), improving communication activities can significantly enhance knowledge uptake. Improving collaboration between government agencies can aid the effectiveness and efficiency of adaptation knowledge delivery to local users.…”

Section: Opportunities For Enhancing Collaborationmentioning

confidence: 68%

“…Policymakers and development practitioners face the complex task of ensuring that societies and socioecological systems adapt sustainably to the risk and impact of climate change (Bhaktikul 2012). In meeting this challenge, it is envisaged that policymakers' and development practitioners' demand for climate adaptation knowledge 1 may rise exponentially (Kalafatis et al 2015). However, the knowledge required to manage the challenges of climate change is often situated in disparate locations and embedded in the traditional adaptive practices of the local people, national climate risk management agencies, regional climate risk management agencies, and elsewhere (Never 2012;Oppermann 2011).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Understanding the current state of collaboration in the production and dissemination of adaptation knowledge in Namibia

Ofoegbu

New

Nyamwanza

et al. 2018

Environ Dev Sustain

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Adaptation to climate change is challenging in terms of managing knowledge flow among diverse actors. This paper examines the roles of key actors in Namibia in the production and dissemination of climate adaptation knowledge. The intention was to identify opportunities for enhancing collaboration among actors to facilitate knowledge flow and uptake in adaptation action. The Omusati Region was used as a case study in understanding the chain of interactions among actors from local/district to the national level vis-à-vis the production and dissemination of adaptation knowledge in Namibia. The researchers conducted key informant interviews with representatives of key organizations in the Namibian adaptation network operating in the Omusati Region. The selection of the organizations of interviewed respondents was based on a previous climate change adaptation stakeholder and influence network mapping exercise in the region. Results indicate that adaptation knowledge generation by organizations happens mainly in the context of other developmental services. Furthermore, most organizations generate their adaptation knowledge internally through their directorates of research and also through cooperation with other organizations. However, there is little or no collaboration between organizations with respect to dissemination of adaptation knowledge to intended targets. The study, therefore, recommends a more concerted effort towards improving collaboration between organizations, and with local communities in the dissemination of adaptation knowledge as a way of enhancing knowledge uptake. This will have practical implications for the improvement in the rate of knowledge uptake in adaptation actions, particularly at the local level. In this regard, the use of workshop and field day meetings show the best prospect for improving collaboration between organizations in knowledge dissemination.

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Section: Opportunities For Enhancing Collaborationmentioning

confidence: 68%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Understanding the current state of collaboration in the production and dissemination of adaptation knowledge in Namibia

Ofoegbu

New

Nyamwanza

et al. 2018

Environ Dev Sustain

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“…For example, Dilling and Lemos (2011) have highlighted the critical role of boundary organizations in taking ownership over the development of supportive conditions and mechanisms that can sustain action over time. Kalafatis et al (2015) have described how the different roles played by broader and more local networks can iteratively expand and deepen the capacity to integrate climate science into decision-making. Research on the City of Melbourne in Australia has offered a particularly compelling case of polycentric networks sustaining climate change-informed stormwater management between a municipality and its larger metropolitan region Ferguson et al, 2013).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Making climate science accessible in Toledo: The linked boundary chain approach

Kalafatis

Grace²,

Gibbons³

2015

Climate Risk Management

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“…However, even such “proxy assessments” are tricky for at least two reasons. First, different target groups usually have different expectations (Kalafatis, Lemos, Lo, & Frank, ; Kirchhoff, Lemos, & Dessai, ; Lemos, Kirchhoff, & Ramprasad, ; Moss, ). Second, although user needs are important for developing policy‐relevant climate services (see above), they may not necessarily concur with “better policy‐making.” Potential users may simply expect that support tools should ease instead of intensify their work, and tools that simply mirror these expectations run the risk of losing their “enlightenment potential,”, that is, their aspiration to facilitate innovative procedures and solutions that go beyond expectations (Sarewitz & Pielke, ; Weiss, ).…”

Section: Climate Services As Decision Support: Institutions Activitimentioning

confidence: 99%

Why popular support tools on climate change adaptation have difficulties in reaching local policy‐makers: Qualitative insights from the UK and Germany

Clar

Steurer

2018

Env Pol Gov

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Policy support for climate change adaptation has grown rapidly and respective tools (such as online guides and handbooks) have been documented and categorized repeatedly in recent years. Nevertheless, we still know little about how relevant their target groups find them for their work. We aim to address this gap with case studies on two well-known support tools: the "Adaptation Wizard" from the UK and the "Klimalotse" from Germany. After showing how adaptation support tools have spread in recent years, we analyze qualitatively how relevant regional and local policy-makers concerned with adaptation find the two tools. One of our main findings is the following discrepancy:while both tools offer support in developing and implementing comprehensive adaptation plans, local policy-makers find this irrelevant and expect support in coping with imminent climate change impacts, for example, by single adaptation measures. Consequently, the local policy-makers we interviewed hardly use the two tools but seek more specific support, in particular regarding vulnerability and cost-benefit assessments. We conclude that policy support tools lack relevance when their well-intended attempt to enlighten target groups is too remote from what the latter expect.

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Increasing information usability for climate adaptation: The role of knowledge networks and communities of practice

Cited by 95 publications

References 33 publications

Understanding the current state of collaboration in the production and dissemination of adaptation knowledge in Namibia

Understanding the current state of collaboration in the production and dissemination of adaptation knowledge in Namibia

Making climate science accessible in Toledo: The linked boundary chain approach

Why popular support tools on climate change adaptation have difficulties in reaching local policy‐makers: Qualitative insights from the UK and Germany

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