Incremental Change, Transition or Transformation? Optimising Change Pathways for Climate Adaptation in Spatial Planning

Abstract

Abstract:In order to incorporate climate adaptation in spatial planning change is required, because climate change impacts the way we live. This implies that spatial planning, as the arranger of the spatial organisation and layout needs to be able to support this change. Current spatial planning is not yet well equipped to play this role. In this research article three possible routes to navigate change are explored. Incremental change is seen as a slow process, which modifies the landscape only slightly. Transition is seen as a fluent change towards a new future, which is an improved version of the existing; and transformation is seen as a change towards a future that is fundamentally different from the existing. The three pathways are compared and it is concluded that transformational change offers the best perspective in dealing with uncertain, unexpected and unprecedented futures, such as developing in times of climate change. Therefore, transformation is theoretically further elaborated and it is found that a transformational change to a new system already starts at a time when the existing system still fully operates. The change to a new system (called B in this article) therefore already started and the predecessors of B already existed. These 'B-minuses' of the new system can be found through network analysis, where the OPEN ACCESSSustainability 2012, 4 2526 most intense and connective nodes are the most likely 'B-minuses'. Alternatively B-minuses can be created through locating the areas where key-nodes and existing infrastructure can be related to existing urban functions. As illustrated in the case-study design, these principles are able to guide the design of a climate proof landscape.

Cities and Systemic Change for Sustainability: Prevailing Epistemologies and an Emerging Research Agenda

“…"Co-evolution" and "social innovation" concepts are hardly employed independently from these, see e.g., [23,24], with the combination between "social innovation" and "strategic niche management" (SNM) forming a more persevering pattern. Also, very few researchers draw on both the MLP (SNM, TM) and "resilience", see e.g., [7,25], which reflects a clear divide between the respective epistemic communities rooted in either STS or SES scholarship.…”

Innovation for What? Unpacking the Role of Innovation for Weak and Strong Sustainability

“…In relation to sustainability, different communities have adopted a systemic approach to sustainability transformations, either focusing on socio-technical systems, socio-ecological systems, or socioeconomic and institutional systems plus their levels, actors, relations, and transformation [13,36] (for a thorough discussion of the differences between the approaches and their governance implications, please see Loorbach, Frantzeskaki [36], Schlaile and Urmetzer [37]). With regard to system innovation, Roggema, Vermeend [6] distinguish between incremental change, transition, and transformation. Incremental system innovation is a slow process with imperceptible changes.…”

An Investigation into the Impact of Change Management on the Wellbeing of Healthcare Workers at Rumailah Hospital in the State of Qatar

“…In RH, current changes are focused on ensuring improved service delivery which is accessible, equitable and timely. Transitional change or Type 1 change is gradual and continuous (Roggema et al, 2012) and Muller et al (2012) state that it is change implemented over a specific period of time. Transformational change also referred to as Type II change does not have a pre-determined time frame and is neither well-controlled.…”