Symposium introduction‐Climate change, governance and environmental services: Institutional perspectives, issues and challenges

Abstract

SUMMARYWhile the science and economics of climate change have been examined extensively, this has not been so with institutions, governance and service activity which are essential response mechanisms. This Symposium seeks to address this situation in theory and practice. Here, three broad institutional perspectives are provided, comprising issues and challenges for institutions within and across state-market-civil society boundaries. This material leads into subsequent discussions of significant developments in

Institutional adaptive capacity and climate change response in the Congo Basin forests of Cameroon

“…Adaptive capacity is reflected in the adaptations or changes in a system to better deal with problematic exposures and sensitivities (Smit and Wandel 2006). Given the diversity of impacts of climate change, it is a problem that demands concerted collective action involving a multilevel response from many institutions and other actors (Adger 2003a;Thynne 2008).…”

Symposium Introduction: The Global Financial Crisis, Governance and Institutional Dynamics

“…State-centric analyses of governance and institutions are rightly tempered and complemented by a clear recognition that states are not the only public actors (Thynne 2008;Thynne and Massey 2009). The international scene comprises many intersections of the public and the private, with states and inter-governmental bodies with international remits working alongside and along with market and civil society entities committed to the public weal.…”

“…Systems of governance and institutions potentially progress through at least three distinguishable levels of maturity, responsibility and trust, with the ever present possibility of regression (Thynne 2008(Thynne , 2009. In essence, the first level sees systems as orderly shells, with well-established structures, processes and procedures.…”

“…They comprise an array of issues and needs, with one of the most pressing being to embed national and global ecology and climate change concerns in strategies of economic development and growth (Lane and Maeland 2011). This requires that a genuine commitment to environmental sustainability becomes a central feature of systemic cultures, decisions and action as first priority by second nature in pursuit of both short and long term national and global public interests (Thynne 2008).…”

Capacité d’adaptation institutionnelle et réponse au changement climatique dans les forêts du Bassin du Congo au Cameroun

“…Elle se traduit aussi par les ajustements ou les changements adoptés pour mieux réagir face aux risques et vulnérabilités problématiques (Smit et Wandel 2006). Etant donné la diversité des impacts du changement climatique, il importe d' engager une action collective et concertée en apportant une réponse à plusieurs niveaux provenant d'un grand nombre d'institutions et d'autres acteurs (Adger 2003a;Thynne 2008). …”