Facilitating Climate Change Responses A Report of Two Workshops on Knowledge from the Social and Behavioral Sciences (2010) / Chapter Skim
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10 Synthesis of Key Questions for the Workshop
10 Synthesis of Key Questions for the Workshop
Pages 129-142
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From page 129... ...
Andrews heard workshop participants identify several kinds of barriers that can prevent initiating adaptation efforts. These include barriers internal to each decision maker and to other actors (e.g., attitudes, incorrect knowledge)
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From page 130... ...
This process of regularizing attention to the adaptation issue is similar to the process pioneered by the environmental impact statement requirement of the National Environmental Policy Act 40 years ago. A second theme is that, in addition to integrating climate change into routine organizational decision processes, there may also be the need for a high-level convening entity with the responsibility to address interagency and interjurisdictional conflicts and coordination needs.
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From page 131... ...
A second is promoting interaction among technical and stakeholder organizations to integrate the best knowledge that is available both from experts and from the communities affected by climate change and adaptation measures. A critical third factor is continuous engagement with adaptive communities rather than one-time studies, rooting adaptation in local areas and recognizing and using relevant local knowledge, which may be as important, or more important, than downscaled global models and other more general expertise.
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From page 132... ...
COORDINATING ADAPTATION EFFORTS Stewart Cohen Environment Canada and University of British Columbia Three key questions were posed to the participants about coordinating adaptation efforts: 1. What strategies or methods have been effective for coordinat ing adaptation efforts across scales (e.g., national, regional, local, individual)
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From page 133... ...
Cohen began by noting a set of coordination issues that had been raised at the workshop: creating common space; building bridges and/or webs; the issue of what to adapt to and who will be doing it (future climate change is different from past variability, and coordination will have to include new actors) ; the need for champions of coordination to create dialogue (e.g., among government agencies, trade associations, specific government programs, such as RISA, collaborations among cities)
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From page 134... ...
Rosenzweig said local practitioners cannot be counted on to remain in place, so there is a need to leave something behind for local organizations. INFORMING ADAPTATION EFFORTS Michele Betsill Colorado State University Two key questions were posed to the participants about informing adaptation efforts: 1.
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From page 135... ...
. SCIENCE NEEDS FOR ADAPTATION EFFORTS Maria Carmen Lemos Three key questions were posed about science needs for informing adaptation efforts: 1.
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From page 136... ...
Finally, there was an expressed need during the workshop for scientists to communicate what they know better: synthesizing it to make it easy for decision makers to use it. The scientists' agenda represents only the group that is present, but there are some frequently repeated terms: the roles of values, beliefs, and attitudes in action and inaction; networks; the roles of formal and informal institutions, those that like to change or resist change, and effects of rules on action; surveying frameworks for thinking about adaptation and carrying out metastudies; understanding the evolution of preferences; social inertia, trade-offs, the role of management and governance, the organization of adaptation options, and ways to evaluate choices.
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MANAGING ADAPTATION EFFORTS Susanne Moser Three key questions were posed about managing adaptation efforts: 1. How should a national climate adaptation effort set priorities across hazards, sectors, regions, and time?
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From page 138... ...
She pointed out, recalling Neil Adger's presentation, that the criteria to use for priority setting will be different depending on goals (e.g., reducing vulnerability versus efficient adaptation versus getting to system resilience)
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From page 139... ...
For example, the adaptation process in New York City builds on London's idea of flexible adaptation pathways, using a diagram showing acceptable risks and how climate change is leading beyond what is acceptable. This diagram is an important management tool both to convey the need and urgency of adaptation and to trigger changes in policy as certain thresholds are reached.
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There were also suggestions to consider information technology as a force shaping social change and to find balance between "thin" and "thick" descriptions of adaptation processes. Several comments focused on issues of practice.
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From page 141... ...
Some comments focused on the magnitude of the adaptation challenge. Moser called for an end to the idea that climate change will be a slow, gradual process and for an increased focus on the big adaptation challenges society may be facing.
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