Abstract
Whilst mitigation has dominated policy and research agendas in recent years there is an increasing recognition that communities also need to be preparing for change that is unavoidable, partially a consequence of anthropogenic greenhouse gases already emitted to the atmosphere. The perceived need for adaptation has also received additional impetus through the high public profile now given to the impacts of current day weather variability, particularly the significant economic and social costs associated with recent extreme events. However, being a relatively new focus for both research and policy communities; practical evidence of the extent, feasibility, efficiency, and cost effectiveness of potential adaptation options remains largely lacking. In response, this paper seeks to make a contribution to this embryonic but evolving knowledge base by considering the theoretical underpinnings of adaptation and ultimately how this translates into practice ‘in the real world’. The analytical commentary, based on a bottom-up approach involving iterative engagement with key stakeholders and experts, reflects on the identification of measures that are either innovative or examples of good practice in reducing or transferring climate risks, as well as considering those ‘enabling’ institutional structures and processes that act to support implementation on the ground. The paper concludes by synthesising the key findings to date in order to highlight some of the opportunities for, and barriers to, adaptation activity.
Similar content being viewed by others
Notes
Institutions are understood as ‘rules of the game’ according to structural (social, economic and political), agency-centred (power and access to power between different actors) and adaptive capacity (particularly the role of learning as embedded in social relationships) perspectives (Pelling and High 2005).
This case study was included in the ADAM project as a non-EU region which is particularly vulnerable to a changing climate.
This has implications for the publicly funded Solidarity Fund recently launched by the European Union.
For many of the major rivers of Europe there are also important trans-national issues to be considered (see for example: McEvoy et al. 2008b).
References
Adger N (2006) Vulnerability. Glob Environ Change 16:268–281
Adger WN, Brooks N, Bentham G, Agnew M, Eriksen S (2004) New indicators of vulnerability and adaptive capacity. Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Technical Report 7
Ashley RM, Blanksby JR, Cashman A, Jack L, Wright G, Packman J, Fewtrell L, Poole A (2007) Adaptable urban drainage—addressing change in intensity, occurrence and uncertainty of stormwater (AUDACIOUS). Built Environ 33(1):70–84
Association of British Insurers (2005) Financial risks of climate risk. ABI, London
Association of British Insurers (2007) Response to the consultation to EU Green Paper ‘adaptation to climate change in Europe—options for EU action’. ABI, London
Beniston M, Stephenson DB, Christensen OB, Ferro ChAT, Frei Ch, Goyette S, Halsnaes K, Holt T, Jylha K, Koffi B, Palutikoff J, Scholl R, Semmler T, Woth K (2007) Future extreme events in European climate: an exploration of regional climate model projections. Clim Change 81(Supp.1):71–95
Bouwer LM, Huitema D, Aerts JCJH (2007) Adaptive flood management: the role of insurance and compensation in Europe. Paper presented to the Amsterdam conference on the Human Dimensions of Global Environmental Change, 24–26 May, 2007. Available at: http://www.2007amsterdamconference.org/Downloads/AC2007_Bouwer.pdf
Brooks N (2003) Vulnerability, risk and adaptation: a conceptual framework. Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, Working Paper 38
CEA (2007) Reducing the social and economic impact of climate change and natural catastrophes: insurance solutions and public–private partnerships. CEA, Brussels
Crichton D (2007) The growing risks of climate change on households in England. BIBA conference, London
DFID (2004) Adaptation to climate change: can insurance reduce the vulnerability of the poor? Department for International Development, London
EEA (2005) Vulnerability and adaptation to climate change in Europe. EEA Technical Report No. 7/2005, European Environment Agency, Copenhagen
EEA (2007) Climate change and water adaptation issues. EEA Technical Report No. 2/2007
Evans E, Ashley R, Hall J, Penning-Rowsell E, Sayers P, Thorne C, Watkinson A (2004) Foresight—future flooding (scientific summary: volume II—managing future risks). Office of Science and Technology, London
Haberl H, Winiwarter V, Andersson K, Ayres RU, Boone C, Castillo A, Cunfer G, Fischer-Kowalski M, Freudenburg WR, Furman E, Kaufmann R, Krausmann F, Langthaler E, Lotze-Campen H, Mirtl M, Redman CL, Reenberg A, Wardell A, Warr B, Zechmeister H (2006) From LTER to LTSER: conceptualizing the socioeconomic dimension of long-term socioecological research. Ecol Soc 11(2):13, [online] URL: http://www.ecologyandsociety.org/vol11/iss2/art13/
IPCC (2001) Climate Change 2001: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability summary for policy makers. World Meteorological Organisation, Geneva
IPCC (2007) In: Solomon S, Qin D, Manning M, Chen Z, Marquis M, Averyt KB, Tignor M, Miller HL (eds) Climate Change 2007: the physical science. Contribution of working group I to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK and New Yok, NY, USA; http://www.ipcc.ch/pdf/assessment-report/ar4/wg1/ar4-wg1-spm.pdf
Jaeger CC (1998) Risk management and integrated assessment. Environ Model Assess 3:211–225
Janssen MA, Ostrom E (2006) Resilience, vulnerability, and adaptation: a cross-cutting theme of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change. Glob Environ Change 16:237–239
Janssen MA, Schoon ML, Ke W, Börner K (2006) Scholarly networks on resilience, vulnerability and adaptation within the human dimensions of global environmental change. Glob Environ Change 16:240–252
Kallis G (2008) Droughts. Annu Rev Environ Resour 33:3.1–3.34
Klein RJT, Huq S, Denton F, Downing TE, Richels RG, Robinson JB, Toth FL (2007) Interrelationships between adaptation and mitigation. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate Change 2007: impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, contribution of working group II to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge
Matczak P, Flachner Z, Werners S (2008) Institutions for adapting to climate change in the Tisza river basin. Klima-21 Fuzetek, Klimavaltozas-Hatasok-Valasztok 55:87–100
McEvoy D, Lindley S, Handley J (2006) Adaptation and mitigation in urban areas: synergies and conflicts. Proc Inst Civ Eng Munic Eng 159(4):185–191
McEvoy D, Lonsdale K, Matczak P (2008a) Adaptation and mainstreaming of EU climate change policy. CEPS policy briefing note for the European Commission, Brussels. Available at: http://shop.ceps.eu/BookDetail.php?item_id=1593
McEvoy D, Tabara D, Werners S, Cots F (2008b) The role of institutional capacity in enabling climate change adaptation: the case of the Guadiana river basin. Borderless Resources and Bounded Management: Challenges and Opportunities for Transborder Environments
McEvoy D, Cavan G, Handley J, McMorrow J, Lindley S (2008c) Changes to climate and visitor behaviour: implications for vulnerable landscapes in the North West region of England. J Sustain Tour 16(2):101–121
Milly PCD, Betancourt J, Falkenmark M, Hirsch RM, Kundzewicz ZW, Lettenmaier DP, Stouffer RJ (2008) Stationarity is dead: whither water management? Science 319:573–574
Munich Re (2006) Environmental report 2005—perspectives—‘today’s ideas for tomorrow’s world’. Munich Re, Munich
Munich Re (2008) Weather risks in Central Europe. Munich Re, Munich
Ojha HR, Paudel K, Pokharel B, McDougall C (2004) Social learning at work: a case study of community forestry in Nepal. Forest Action
Pahl-Wostl C (2007) Transition towards adaptive management of water facing climate and global change. Water Resour Manag 21:49–62
Pelling M, High C (2005) Social learning and adaptation to climate change. Disaster studies working paper No. 11, Benfield Hazard Research Centre, UCL, London
Pitt Review (2007) Learning lessons from the 2007 floods. An independent review by Sir Michael Pitt to the UK Cabinet Office, London
Posthumus H, Hewett CJM, Morris J, Quinn PF (2008) Agricultural land use and flood risk management: engaging with stakeholders in North Yorkshire. Agric Water Manage 95:787–798
Scientific Expert Group on Climate Change (2007) Confronting Climate Change: avoiding the unmanageable and managing the unavoidable. In: Bierbaum RM, Holdren JP, MacCracken MC, Moss RH, Raven PH (eds) Report prepared for the United Nations Commission on sustainable development. Sigma Xi, Research Triangle Park, NC, and the United Nations Foundation, Washington, 144 pp
Sendzimir J, Magnuszewski P, Balogh P, Vari A (2007) Anticipatory modeling of biocomplexity in the Tisza River Basin: first steps to establish a participatory adaptive framework. Environ Model Softw 22:599–609
Shaw R, Colley M, Connell R (2007) Climate change adaptation by design: a guide for sustainable communities. TCPA, London
Smit B, Wandel J (2006) Adaptation, adaptive capacity and vulnerability. Glob Environ Change 16:282–292
Stern N (2006) The economics of climate change (The Stern Review). Report for the Cabinet Office—HM Treasury. University Press Cambridge, Cambridge
Swiss Re (2006) The effects of climate change: storm damage in Europe on the rise. Swiss Re, Zurich
Tippett J, Searle B, Pahl-Wostl C, Rees Y (2005) Social learning in public participation in river basin management—early findings from HarmoniCOP European case studies. Environ Sci Policy 8:287–299
Tompkins E, Boyd E, Nicholson-Cole SA, Weatherhead K, Arnell NW, Adger WN (2005) Linking adaptation research and practice. Report submitted to Defra as part of the Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation Cross-Regional Research Programme. Defra, London
UNEP (2004) Rapid Environmental Assessment of the Tisza River Basin. A joint publication of NEP/ROE and UNEP/DEWA/GRID-Europe, in collaboration with UNEP/Vienna-ISCC
UNEP Finance Initiative (2006) Adaptation and vulnerability to climate change: the role of the finance sector. UNEP, Geneva
Vari A, Linnerooth-Bayer J, Ferencz Z (2003) Stakeholder views on flood risk management in Hungary’s Upper Tisza Basin. Risk Anal 23(3):585–600
Werners SE, Matczak P, Flachner Z (2009) The introduction of floodplain rehabilitation and rural development in the water policy of the Hungarian Tisza River. In: Huitema D, Meijerink S (eds) Transitions in water policy. Edward Elgar, Camberley, in press
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
McEvoy, D., Matczak, P., Banaszak, I. et al. Framing adaptation to climate-related extreme events. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 15, 779–795 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-010-9233-2
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-010-9233-2