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Adapting transformation and transforming adaptation to climate change using a pathways approach

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Title Adapting transformation and transforming adaptation to climate change using a pathways approach
 
Creator Colloff, M.J.
Goddard, R.
Abel, N.
Locatelli, B.
Wyborn, C.
Butler, J.R.A.
Lavorel, S.
van Kerkhoff, L.
Meharg, S.
Múnera-Roldán, C.
Bruley, E.
Fedele, G.
Wise, R.M.
Dunlop, M.
 
Subject ecosystem services
adaptation
value systems
decision making
 
Description Human actions have driven earth systems close to irreversible and profound change. The need to shift towards intentional transformative adaptation (ITA) is clear. Using case studies from the Transformative Adaptation Research Alliance (TARA), we explore ITA as a way of thinking and acting that is transformative in concept and objectives, but achieved through a mix of incremental and transformative co-production processes that ultimately lead to the social-ecological system being transformed. Central to ITA are social and political issues of how individuals and collectives address environmental and social change and deal with power imbalances. ITA approaches are claimed to help overcome adaptation challenges, including: 1) re-framing human-nature relationships; 2) dealing with uncertainty; 3) engendering empowerment and agency and 4) addressing conflicting values and interests. However, it is unclear if these approaches work in practice. We examined six adaptation case studies in which participants used processes of: 1) co-producing visions of the future; 2) re-framing values, rules and knowledge to shift decision contexts for adaptation and 3) implementing actions using theories of change and adaptation pathways. We assessed the extent to which participants could use these processes to address their adaptation challenges. We found evidence of many positive achievements towards the implementation of ITA, but also examples where processes were not working, such as communities having difficulties in finding ways to work co-operatively. Different processes will be needed to address these issues, such as promoting pluralism, knowledge contestation, and deliberative re-politicisation of the adaptation agenda to shift power imbalances and enable change.
 
Date 2021-10
2021-09-24T07:35:33Z
2021-09-24T07:35:33Z
 
Type Journal Article
 
Identifier Colloff, M.J., Gorddard, R., Abel, N., Locatelli, B., Wyborn, C., Butler, J.R., Lavorel, S., van Kerkhoff, L., Meharg, S., Múnera-Roldán, C. and Bruley, E., 2021. Adapting transformation and transforming adaptation to climate change using a pathways approach. Environmental Science & Policy, 124, 163-174. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.06.014
1462-9011
https://hdl.handle.net/10568/115139
https://www.cifor.org/library/8156
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.06.014
 
Language en
 
Rights CC-BY-NC-ND-4.0
Open Access
 
Format 163-174
 
Publisher Elsevier BV
 
Source Environmental Science and Policy