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Capacities across scales: local to national adaptation policy in four European countries

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  • Lisa Westerhoff
  • E. Carina H. Keskitalo
  • Sirkku Juhola

Abstract

A framework of adaptive capacity and prerequisites for planned adaptation are used to identify the resources and conditions that have enabled or constrained the development of planned adaptation at national to local levels in Italy, Sweden, Finland and the UK. Drawing on 94 semi-structured interviews with climate change actors at each scale, the study demonstrates that planned adaptation measures occur as a result of several inter-relating factors, including the existence of political will, public support (and relevant media portrayal of climate change), adequate financial resources, the ability to produce or access climate and other information, and the extent of stakeholder involvement in the design and application of adaptation measures. Specific national adaptation measures affect local capacities to implement planned adaptations, but in some cases have been complemented or substituted by internal and external networks that connect local authorities to information and resources. The study demonstrates that opportunities to engage in planned adaptation at local levels may occur given adequate interest and resources; however, both national authorities and non-governmental organizations continue to play an important role in fostering local capacities.

Suggested Citation

  • Lisa Westerhoff & E. Carina H. Keskitalo & Sirkku Juhola, 2011. "Capacities across scales: local to national adaptation policy in four European countries," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(4), pages 1071-1085, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:tcpoxx:v:11:y:2011:i:4:p:1071-1085
    DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2011.579258
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. W. Neil Adger & Saleemul Huq & Katrina Brown & Declan Conway & Mike Hulme, 2003. "Adaptation to climate change in the developing world," Progress in Development Studies, , vol. 3(3), pages 179-195, July.
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    1. Giovanni Pilato & Susannah M. Sallu & Marta Gaworek-Michalczenia, 2018. "Assessing the Integration of Climate Change and Development Strategies at Local Levels: Insights from Muheza District, Tanzania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-25, January.
    2. James Ford & Diana King, 2015. "A framework for examining adaptation readiness," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 505-526, April.
    3. Alexandra Sadler & Nicola Ranger & Sam Fankhauser & Fulvia Marotta & Brian O’Callaghan, 2024. "The impact of COVID-19 fiscal spending on climate change adaptation and resilience," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 7(3), pages 270-281, March.
    4. Elissa Waters & Jon Barnett, 2018. "Spatial imaginaries of adaptation governance: A public perspective," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 36(4), pages 708-725, June.
    5. Erik Glaas & Sirkku Juhola, 2013. "New Levels of Climate Adaptation Policy: Analyzing the Institutional Interplay in the Baltic Sea Region," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(1), pages 1-20, January.
    6. Borrás, Susana & Haakonsson, Stine & Taudal Poulsen, René & Pallesen, Trine & Hendriksen, Christian & Somavilla, Lucas & Kugelberg, Susanna & Larsen, Henrik & Gerli, Francesco, 2023. "The Transformative Capacity of Public Sector Organizations in Sustainability Transitions: A Conceptualization," Papers in Innovation Studies 2023/2, Lund University, CIRCLE - Centre for Innovation Research.
    7. Juita -Elena (Wie) Yusuf & Burton St. John, 2017. "Stuck on options and implementation in Hampton Roads, Virginia: an integrated conceptual framework for linking adaptation capacity, readiness, and barriers," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 7(3), pages 450-460, September.
    8. Sirkku Juhola & Sylvia Kruse, 2015. "A framework for analysing regional adaptive capacity assessments: challenges for methodology and policy making," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 99-120, January.
    9. Marcin DÄ…browski & Dominic Stead & Jinghuan He & Feng Yu, 2021. "Adaptive capacity of the Pearl River Delta cities in the face of the growing flood risk: Institutions, ideas and interests," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 58(13), pages 2683-2702, October.
    10. Luca Salvati & Ilaria Zambon & Giuseppe Pignatti & Andrea Colantoni & Sirio Cividino & Luigi Perini & Giorgio Pontuale & Massimo Cecchini, 2019. "A Time-Series Analysis of Climate Variability in Urban and Agricultural Sites (Rome, Italy)," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 9(5), pages 1-18, May.
    11. Taedong Lee & Sara Hughes, 2017. "Perceptions of urban climate hazards and their effects on adaptation agendas," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 761-776, June.
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    13. Christoph Oberlack, 2017. "Diagnosing institutional barriers and opportunities for adaptation to climate change," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 22(5), pages 805-838, June.

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