Learning to Adapt: Organisational Adaptation to Climate Change Impacts

Abstract

Analysis of human adaptation to climate change should be based on realistic models of adaptive behaviour at the level of organisations and individuals. The paper sets out a framework for analysing adaptation to the direct and indirect impacts of climate change in business organisations with new evidence presented from empirical research into adaptation in nine case-study companies. It argues that adaptation to climate change has many similarities with processes of organisational learning. The paper suggests that business organisations face a number of obstacles in learning how to adapt to climate change impacts, especially the weakness and ambiguity of signals about climate change and uncertainty about the benefits of adaptation measures.Organisations rarely adapt 'autonomously', since their adaptive behaviour is influenced by policy and market conditions, and draws on resources external to the organisation. The paper identifies four adaptation strategies that pattern organisational adaptive behaviour.

To what extent are land resource managers preparing for high-end climate change in Scotland?

“…A group's adaptation decision-making at the policy level is constrained by issues including inertia, cultures of risk denial and other phenomena (Adger et al 2009). Factors that have been shown to limit adaptation at the organisation level include the following: lack of adequate information about climate change impacts, lack of resources at the local authority level, conflicting interests, negative impacts from existing policies at lower levels of governance, and the difficulty in assessing and implementing adaptation options (Adger et al 2009;Berkhout et al 2006;Crabbé and Robin 2006;Poteete and Ostrom 2004). An individual's or group's adaptation decision-making is also constrained by the institutional context within which they operate, including, for example, regulatory structures, property rights and social norms (Adger et al 2005;Adger et al 2009;Powell and DiMaggio 2012).…”

Perceptions of climate trends among Mexican maize farmers

“…Adaptive capacity can be defined as the necessary preconditions to enable adaptation, including social characteristics, and physical and economic elements (Nelson et al, 2007). It is influenced not only by economic development and technology, but also by social factors such as human capital and governance structures (Nelson et al, 2007;Berkhout et al, 2006;Brooks et al, 2005).…”

Experiences applying the climate resilience framework: linking theory with practice

“…Numerous factors, however, influence the ability of individuals and organisations to learn (Engel and Carlsson 2002;McDaniels and Gregory 2004;Berkhout, Hertin, and Gann 2006). People discount events that are seen as rare, uncertain, or only relevant in the distant future.…”