Limits to adaptation

Dow, Kirstin; Berkhout, Frans; Preston, Benjamin L.; Klein, Richard J.T.; Midgley, Guy F.; Shaw, M. Rebecca

doi:10.1038/nclimate1847

Cited by 315 publications

(234 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…Subsequent research justified a chapter titled "Adaptation Opportunities, Constraints, and Limits" in the IPCC Fifth Assessment Report . Understanding where, when, and how barriers and limits to adaptation arise has become an important frontier in climate change research (Adger et al 2009a, 2009b, Stafford-Smith et al 2011, Dow et al 2013a, Islam et al 2014, Palutikof et al 2014a. Two recent reviews argue that advances in knowledge require comparative studies that seek to identify the underlying drivers of the barriers and limits to adaptation (Biesbroek at al.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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From barriers to limits to climate change adaptation: path dependency and the speed of change

Barnett¹,

Evans²,

Gross³

et al. 2015

E&S

212

123

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ABSTRACT. Research on the barriers and limits to climate change adaptation identifies many factors, but describes few processes whereby adaptation is constrained or may indeed fail to avoid catastrophic losses. It often assumes that barriers are by and large distinct from limits to adaptation. We respond to recent calls for comparative studies that are able to further knowledge about the underlying drivers of barriers and limits to adaptation. We compare six cases from across Australia, including those in alpine areas, rivers, reefs, wetlands, small inland communities, and islands, with the aim of identifying common underlying drivers of barriers and limits to adaptation. We find that the path-dependent nature of the institutions that govern natural resources and public goods is a deep driver of barriers and limits to adaptation. Path-dependent institutions are resistant to change. When this resistance causes the changes necessary for adaptation to be slower than changes in climate, then it becomes a limit to adaptation.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Much depends on the severity of the climatic perturbation and the sensitivity and resilience of the systems at risk (Dow et al 2013a). Concepts of barriers and limits often frame research on how adaptation is constrained by various social and biophysical factors, or may fail to avoid catastrophic climate impacts.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

From barriers to limits to climate change adaptation: path dependency and the speed of change

Barnett¹,

Evans²,

Gross³

et al. 2015

E&S

212

123

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“…This makes it possible to draw a distinction between L&D and adaptation in terms of the different kinds of risk both approaches aim to diminish. One possible way to distinguish different kinds of risk is proposed by Dow et al (2013). According to their conception, some risks are perceived as acceptable, others as tolerable, and still others as intolerable, depending on the adaptive capacity of a human system.…”

Section: Adaptation Vs Loss and Damagementioning

confidence: 99%

Justice for climate loss and damage

Wallimann-Helmer

2015

Climatic Change

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This paper suggests a way to elaborate the ethical implications of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) as decided at COP 19 from the perspective of justice. It advocates three pro-posals. First, in order to fully understand the responsibilities and liabilities implied in the WIM, adaptation needs to be distinguished from loss and damage (LD) on the basis of the different goals which should be attributed to adaptation and to LD approaches. Second, the primary concern of the WIM should be compensatory justice. In case of climate LD, three aspects of compensatory justice should be kept separate: corrective liability, remedial responsibility, and with regard to the resources available, fair remedy. Third, it is crucial to distinguish between recov-erable damage and irrecoverable or at least not fully recoverable loss. This distinction is crucial because it informs the principles of fair remedy and because damage and loss may differ in their relevance for the stability and functioning of a human system. Abstract: This paper suggests a way to elaborate the ethical implications of the Warsaw International Mechanism (WIM) as decided at COP 19 from the perspective of justice. It advocates three proposals. First, in order to fully understand the responsibilities and liabilities implied in the WIM, adaptation needs to be distinguished from loss and damage (L&D) on the basis of the different goals which should be attributed to adaptation and to L&D approaches. Second, the primary concern of the WIM should be compensatory justice. In case of climate L&D, three aspects of compensatory justice should be kept separate: corrective liability, remedial responsibility, and with regard to the resources available, fair remedy. Third, it is crucial to distinguish between recoverable damage and irrecoverable or at least not fully recoverable loss. This distinction is crucial because it informs the principles of fair remedy and because damage and loss may differ in their relevance for the stability and functioning of a human system.

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“…However, we do recognize that emission reductions play a crucial role in avoiding dangerous climate change and its impacts. The working definition we used links the concept of loss and damage firmly to the emerging research field of adaptation limits and constraints (Burton, 2009;Adger et al, 2009;Dow et al, 2013;Preston et al, 2013), which for the first time has a chapter in the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (Klein et al, 2014). Loss and damage from sudden-onset events as well as slow-onset processes have been examined, but the focus in this chapter is on concrete events and less on gradual changes.…”

Section: Loss and Damagementioning

confidence: 99%

Vulnerability, Coping and Loss and Damage from Climate Events

Geest¹,

Warner²

2015

Hazards, Risks, and Disasters in Society

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"Loss and damage" is an emerging concept in the fields of climate-change adaptation and disaster risk reduction. It results from inadequate efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and insufficient capacity to adapt to climatic changes and cope with impacts. This chapter uses original data from study sites in four African and Asian countries that were surveyed in the context of the first ever multisite study of loss and damage in vulnerable communities. National researchers conducted fieldwork in rural areas, looking at impacts of drought (Gambia), floods (Kenya, Nepal), and cyclones (Bangladesh). Methods included a household survey (n ¼ 1,431) about climate-related stressors, vulnerability, impacts, coping strategies, and residual loss and damage. The survey data are used to investigate how rural households attempt to cope with impacts of climatic stressors and how successful they are in avoiding loss and damage. A multidimensional vulnerability index (MDVI) is created to analyze differences between more and less vulnerable households in the uptake and effectiveness of seven types of coping strategies. The study reveals that vulnerable households used a more diverse portfolio of coping measures. They were more likely to reduce expenses, modify food consumption and rely on social networks to cope with impacts of climatic stressors. No significant differences were found between more and less vulnerable households in the uptake of migration, asset sales and reliance on relief. The impacts of climate-related stressors in vulnerable communities are beyond the majority (69 percent) of households' capacity to cope. This is especially true for more vulnerable 1. The data presented in this chapter were gathered in the context of the Loss and Damage in

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Limits to adaptation

Cited by 315 publications

References 12 publications

From barriers to limits to climate change adaptation: path dependency and the speed of change

From barriers to limits to climate change adaptation: path dependency and the speed of change

Justice for climate loss and damage

Vulnerability, Coping and Loss and Damage from Climate Events

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