Institutional adaptive capacities to promote Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) to flooding in England

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to assess the inherent adaptive capacities of multilevel flood management institutions in England that are necessary to espouse the concept of Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA). Design/methodology/approach – This paper is based on an extensive assessment of flood management literature including European and English flood management policies, strategies, regulations and reports. First, an assessment protocol was developed from systematic literature search and, second, multilevel flood management policies and organizations were evaluated. A qualitative scoring method was applied at the assessment stage. Findings – The protocol included 18 major assessment criteria under seven EbA principles. Application of the protocol showed that English national flood policies showed comparatively greater adaptive capacities than European- and local-level policies and local organizations. Specialized flood management policies such as Catchment Flood Management Policies at the local level and European Policies such as flood directives are among the lowest-scoring policy institutions. It was also identified that there is an emerging trend of stakeholder participation, catchment-based approach and knowledge-based adaptation planning at the national level which potentially can be the entry points of wider-scale EbA implementation. This paper recommends proactive roles of local executive organizations through improving institutional communication, consideration of catchment-scale planning with clear adaptation goals and valuing local knowledge base. Originality/value – The research is important to identify the institutional aspects of adaptive capacity that require attention for promoting alternative adaptation measures such as EbA.

Climate-smart agriculture in practice: insights from smallholder farmers, Timor-Leste and the Philippines, Southeast Asia

“…Two distinct mechanisms for financing low-cost adaptation and mitigation practices in the agriculture sector at the community-level were identified: Bottom-up Budgeting (BuB) and microfinance. Consistent with the findings of other studies (Vignola et al 2015;Huq 2016;Renaud et al 2016), the study found that the key feature of soft technology solutions in agricultural systems capitalise on the conservation, restoration or management of ecosystem processes. The focus of the soft technology options was on adjusting farming management, diversification of crop, changing land-use practices and nutrient and pest management.…”

Mainstreaming Ecosystem Services Based Climate Change Adaptation (EbA) in Bangladesh: Status, Challenges and Opportunities

“…Therefore, the findings of the paper arrive at the similar conclusion of the relevant literature of adaptation governance, e.g., [7,16,26,94] that the EbA approach is very much a nascent concept at the adaptation policy level, especially in the context of a developing country. More research is necessary addressing EbA governance, e.g., [14,17,85] to establish the underlying causes of such low levels of (horizontal) mainstreaming of EbA. From the mainstreaming perspective, the findings also signify the important statement that the current development and adaptation policies and practices of Bangladesh are yet not very favorable for materializing a holistic and integrated concept of EbA.…”

“…Generally, mainstreaming can occur at two different levels: (i) vertical mainstreaming at top strategic levels such as political, national policy and regulating level integrate issues through policies and/or regulations; and (ii) horizontal mainstreaming at less powerful policy levels such as executive organizations that integrate issues at ground operations, programs and working structures while implementing projects [17,42,44,47,51]. This paper argues that the EbA mainstreaming should occur at both levels so policies and actions can complement each other through experiences, learning, knowledge and practices.…”

“…Increasing capacity and awareness of climatic risk and knowledge of adaptation at institutional level are important cornerstones for sustainable resilience planning [17,92]. Climate change is still viewed as an environmental problem and the necessary mainstreaming of climate change is yet to happen in Bangladesh, let alone mainstreaming of ESS approaches [45,88,93].…”

“…Secondly, increasing the learning and adaptive capacities of the key sectors and organization so that state-of-the-art ideologies and technologies can be transferred for action. Thirdly, update sectoral policies in light of global scientific understanding, learning and experiences as well as to ensure legitimate back-up for the policies for better implementation [17]. Fourthly, EbA policies across scale will necessarily address the poor and vulnerable communities since the distribution of ESS are often influenced by the social and political elites [95].…”