From Risk Governance to City–Citizen Collaboration: Capitalizing on individual adaptation to climate change

Abstract

Urban societies are increasingly affected by climatic variability and extremes. In theory, adaptation policy creates the conditions needed to support autonomous adaptationor deliver public adaptation if autonomous adaptation fails to develop. However, little attention has been given to autonomous adaptation by private households and individuals, and how it is taken into account in cities' strategic adaptation planning. Against this background, this paper examines the synergies between measures taken by city authorities and citizens, and, more specifically, how public adaptation planning enhances or inhibits private (individual) adaptation. Based on a literature review and an in-depth study of German municipalities, existing types of city-citizen interaction are systematized. The results show that targeted city-citizen collaboration for climate change adaptation is practically non-existent. City authorities rarely pay sufficient attention to financial and structural aid for individual adaptation. Conversely, the available municipal support for individual adaptation has little take-up by members of the public. Furthermore, urban policy and planning often counteract collaboration and the implementation of measures that meet citizens' capacities and needs. The paper concludes that improving citycitizen collaboration for adaptation co-production is an important step in fostering transformative adaptation, if the barriers and driving forces identified in the study are addressed. The framework that is presented advances theory on city-citizen interactions for adaptation co-production, providing a basis for related analyses, action and further research.

From citizen participation to government participation: An exploration of the roles of local governments in community initiatives for climate change adaptation in the Netherlands

“…Citizens are not aware of adaptation risks or feel a sense of urgency for taking adaptation action (Mees, Driessen, & Runhaar, 2014), or they expect the government to be responsible (Adger, Quinn, Lorenzoni, Murphy, & Sweeney, 2013;Wamsler, 2016). Citizens are not aware of adaptation risks or feel a sense of urgency for taking adaptation action (Mees, Driessen, & Runhaar, 2014), or they expect the government to be responsible (Adger, Quinn, Lorenzoni, Murphy, & Sweeney, 2013;Wamsler, 2016).…”

“…An exploration into the roles of governments in their dealings with citizens' initiatives is important, not only because conceptual explorations are still scarce but also because governments can frustrate such initiatives rather than facilitate them Wamsler, 2016). A few general government typologies exist, such as the typology of Bulkeley and Kern (2006) of government "By authority," "By provision," and "By enabling" and the typology of a "Realising," "Cooperating," and "Inviting" government of Van Buuren (2017).…”

“…This increased "responsibilisation" of citizens -transferring the burden of risk and responsibility to citizens- (Klein, Juhola, & Landauer, 2017;O'Hare, White, & Connelly, 2015;Roth & Prior, 2014;Wamsler, 2016) has implications for the roles of governments. This increased "responsibilisation" of citizens -transferring the burden of risk and responsibility to citizens- (Klein, Juhola, & Landauer, 2017;O'Hare, White, & Connelly, 2015;Roth & Prior, 2014;Wamsler, 2016) has implications for the roles of governments.…”

“…Consequently, conceptual understandings of what "facilitating" and "enabling" roles for governments might entail in the adaptation domain are in an embryonic stage. This hampers a thorough understanding of the challenges governments can face and how they can overcome these challenges, which in the worst case might lead to governments frustrating initiatives rather than facilitating them Wamsler, 2016). This hampers a thorough understanding of the challenges governments can face and how they can overcome these challenges, which in the worst case might lead to governments frustrating initiatives rather than facilitating them Wamsler, 2016).…”

The Roles of Residents in Climate Adaptation: A systematic review in the case of the Netherlands

“…Moreover, forms of network governance based on trust rather than formal authority may become more prevalent, and policy instruments such as negotiated agreements, trading mechanisms and covenants may enter the arena (Driessen et al , ). Financial incentives for individual adaptation can be offered; and (in)formal agreements with individuals who engage in improving city–citizen collaboration can be made (Wamsler, ).…”