Wamsler, C and Brink, E (2015) The role of individual adaptive practices for sustainable adaptation. International Journal of Disaster Resilience in the Built Environment, 6(1), pp. 6-29. ISSN 1759-5916
Abstract
Purpose – This paper aims to investigate the strategies used by Swedish citizens to adapt to changing climate variability and extremes. There is an increasing consensus that individual adaptive capacities are critical to successfully adapt to climate change and achieve sustainable development. However, little is known about individual adaptive practices, particularly in developed countries. Design/methodology/approach – The study covered a variety of geographical areas and included single-case studies of specific locations, cross-case studies and country-wide studies. Data were collected through literature review, interviews with at-risk people, observation and group discussions with municipal staff. Findings – The paper provides an overview of Swedish citizens' adaptive practices and highlights how institutional development efforts affect individuals and their activities, including the equitable distribution of adaptation needs and resources. The paper concludes that individual adaptive capacities do not necessarily translate into adaptation. Practical implications – The results show that planned interventions are required. They emphasise the importance of more people-oriented adaptation planning that fosters the sustainable transformation of cities, together with the role that South-North knowledge transfer can play in this context. Originality/value – The paper offers critical insights into the positive and negative effects of citizens' adaptation strategies (based on criteria such as effectiveness, sustainability and equity), and it discusses their relevance in the formulation of development policies and programmes.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | climate change adaptation; climate justice; coping strategies; risk governance; risk reduction; Sweden |
| Index terms: | adaptive capacity, risk governance, transformation, Sweden, adaptation, case study, variability, coping, effectiveness, climate justice, literature review, strategy, sustainable development, programme, interview, risk reduction, climate change, methodology, developed country, knowledge transfer |
| Subjects: | research dissemination and communication, data collection methods, business, user focus, climate science, data analysis and analytics, management, research methods, performance management, Geography, health safety and environment, social equity, development economics, urban design, financial risk, project controls, behavioral psychology, statistical analysis |
| Topics: | Sustainability, Research Practice, Geographical Context, Cost Management, Business Strategy, Health and Safety, Time Control, Quality Management, International Construction, Design Practice, Digital Applications |
| Descriptive scope: | 5 PCTEA |
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