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Adaptation to Climate Change

Author

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  • Louise Bedsworth
  • Ellen Hanak

Abstract

Problem: Even if significant reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions are achieved, some amount of climate change appears to be inevitable. Local, regional, state, and federal planning and regulation should begin to address how to adapt to these changes. Purpose: This article presents a policy synthesis of adaptation planning issues, using California as a case study. We examine the institutional and regulatory challenges and tradeoffs that climate change poses in six particularly vulnerable areas: water resources, electricity, coastal resources, air quality, public health, and ecosystem resources. We discuss obstacles to adaptation planning and successes overcoming these barriers, and suggest how planning can incorporate adaptation. Methods: This article presents a policy synthesis of adaptation planning issues, drawing on our recent research on California's experience and related literature. We summarize the results of six studies that draw on quantitative and qualitative information gathered through surveys, interviews, and literature review. Results and conclusions: Planners should use forward-looking climate data that include higher water and air temperatures, sea-level rise, and increased numbers of extreme events like heat waves, floods, and wildfires when making decisions about future development, infrastructure investments, open-space protection, and disaster preparedness. Climate change will exacerbate conflicts between goals for economic development, habitat protection, and public safety, requiring stronger interagency coordination and new laws and regulations. Takeaway for practice: Local and regional planners can help society adapt to a changing climate by using the best available science, deciding on goals and early actions, locating relevant partners, identifying and eliminating regulatory barriers, and encouraging the introduction of new state mandates and guidelines. Research support: Partial support for this research was provided by Pacific Gas and Electric, The Nature Conservancy, and Next 10.

Suggested Citation

  • Louise Bedsworth & Ellen Hanak, 2010. "Adaptation to Climate Change," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 76(4), pages 477-495.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rjpaxx:v:76:y:2010:i:4:p:477-495
    DOI: 10.1080/01944363.2010.502047
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Louise Bedsworth, 2012. "California’s local health agencies and the state’s climate adaptation strategy," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 111(1), pages 119-133, March.
    2. Missy Stults & Sierra C. Woodruff, 2017. "Looking under the hood of local adaptation plans: shedding light on the actions prioritized to build local resilience to climate change," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 22(8), pages 1249-1279, December.
    3. Xin Fu & Xinhao Wang, 2018. "Developing an integrative urban resilience capacity index for plan making," Environment Systems and Decisions, Springer, vol. 38(3), pages 367-378, September.
    4. Elissa Waters & Jon Barnett & Aedan Puleston, 2014. "Contrasting perspectives on barriers to adaptation in Australian climate change policy," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 124(4), pages 691-702, June.
    5. Xinyu Fu & Jie Song, 2017. "Assessing the Economic Costs of Sea Level Rise and Benefits of Coastal Protection: A Spatiotemporal Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(8), pages 1-14, August.
    6. Kim, Hyejung, 2021. "Technologies for adapting to climate change: A case study of Korean cities and implications for Latin American cities," Documentos de Proyectos 46992, Naciones Unidas Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe (CEPAL).
    7. Sissel Hovik & Jon Naustdalslid & Marit Reitan & Tone Muthanna, 2015. "Adaptation to Climate Change: Professional Networks and Reinforcing Institutional Environments," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 33(1), pages 104-117, February.
    8. Yu Han & Changjie Chen & Zhong-Ren Peng & Pallab Mozumder, 2022. "Evaluating impacts of coastal flooding on the transportation system using an activity-based travel demand model: a case study in Miami-Dade County, FL," Transportation, Springer, vol. 49(1), pages 163-184, February.
    9. Branham, Jordan & Onda, Kyle & Kaza, Nikhil & BenDor, Todd K. & Salvesen, David, 2021. "How does the removal of federal subsidies affect investment in coastal protection infrastructure?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C).
    10. Julia A. Ekstrom & Louise Bedsworth & Amanda Fencl, 2017. "Gauging climate preparedness to inform adaptation needs: local level adaptation in drinking water quality in CA, USA," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 140(3), pages 467-481, February.
    11. Tiberiu Iancu & Valentina Constanta Tudor & Eduard Alexandru Dumitru & Cristina Maria Sterie & Marius Mihai Micu & Dragos Smedescu & Liviu Marcuta & Elena Tonea & Paula Stoicea & Catalin Vintu & Andy , 2022. "A Scientometric Analysis of Climate Change Adaptation Studies," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-20, October.
    12. Yu Han & Kevin Ash & Liang Mao & Zhong-Ren Peng, 2020. "An agent-based model for community flood adaptation under uncertain sea-level rise," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 162(4), pages 2257-2276, October.
    13. Shorna B. Allred & Allison M. Chatrchyan & Giorgi Tsintsadze, 2022. "Local municipal capacity for climate change action in New York State: Exploring the urban–rural divide," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 39(5), pages 570-601, September.
    14. Jie Song & Xinyu Fu & Ruoniu Wang & Zhong-Ren Peng & Zongni Gu, 2018. "Does planned retreat matter? Investigating land use change under the impacts of flooding induced by sea level rise," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 23(5), pages 703-733, June.
    15. Tisha Joseph Holmes & Ava Holt & Dorette Quintana English, 2022. "Progress of Local Health Department Planning Actions for Climate Change: Perspectives from California, USA," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(13), pages 1-17, June.
    16. Tahmineh Ladi & Shaghayegh Jabalameli & Ayyoob Sharifi, 2022. "Applications of machine learning and deep learning methods for climate change mitigation and adaptation," Environment and Planning B, , vol. 49(4), pages 1314-1330, May.
    17. Vahid Karimi & Ezatollah Karami & Shobeir Karami & Marzieh Keshavarz, 2021. "Adaptation to climate change through agricultural paradigm shift," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(4), pages 5465-5485, April.

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