Participation, scenarios and pathways in long-term planning for climate change adaptation

Abstract

This article describes a climate change adaptation planning process triggered by a group of researchers and stakeholders in a context where no collective responses or long-term plans for protecting a vulnerable coastal system had been initiated, despite local perceptions of vulnerability and risk. The case study shows the application of two methods: scenario workshops and adaptation pathways in the context of a participatory action research methodological design. Participatory action research and qualitative scenario methods are highlighted as accelerators of climate change adaptation processes by calling to action, facilitating and connecting diverse social groups with a stake in a long-term plan towards a more adapted society. The experience leads to the conclusion that planning climate change adaptation has to go far beyond the technical dimension and take into account those affected (in the present and the future) by decisions made. A holistic approach to climate change adaptation planning will depend on the interrelations of managerial and top-down approaches with localized initiatives driven through an inclusive and collective action research process.

Understanding climate change policy and action in Portuguese municipalities: A survey

“…A multi-method approach is important to develop sustainable adaptation plans, which can benefit from using Geographic Information System maps and provide local stakeholders with a clear visual representation of risks (Wood Table 6 Level of knowledge on climate change global and local impacts, and on mitigation and adaptation measures; and knowledge on climate change in comparison with the existence of a specific department/commission for climate change issues. and Stocker, 2009;Campos et al, 2016b). Once potential measures are identified, the planning process could include a prioritization of measures and an assessment of costs and benefits, taking into account future climatic uncertainties and the social and environmental impacts of different measures (Hallegatte, 2009;Haasnoot et al, 2013).…”

Engaging with uncertainty and ambiguity through participatory ‘Adaptive Pathways’ approaches: scoping the literature

“…For example, Butler et al (2014Butler et al ( , 2015Butler et al ( , 2016aButler et al ( , 2016c, Butler (2016b), Skewes et al (2016) and Wise et al (2016) are all drawn from a single case of AP planning for livelihoods in Nusa Tenggara Barat Province, Indonesia. Three by Barnett et al (2011Barnett et al ( , 2014aBarnett et al ( , 2014b refer to AP planning for a coastal area in Victoria Australia, and two by Campos et al (2016aCampos et al ( , 2016b relate to a case of AP planning for a coastal area in Portugal. Consequently, these were grouped as three cases, which meant the review found eight cases of participatory AP planning across five policy issues, in eight different locations across four countries.…”

“…In the Portuguese case (Campos et al 2016a(Campos et al , 2016b, the research team drafted pathways between two scenario planning workshops. In a subsequent workshop, printed copies of the draft pathways were given to participants who worked in groups to sketch new pathways on top of those drafts.…”

“…These were then incorporated into pathways mapping software, and the developing pathways projected up on a screen for the participants to view. A final 'report was then sent to all participants, which included the final pathways, with a representation of potential coastal adaptation policies and measures' (Campos et al 2016a).…”

A Participatory Approach for Adapting River Basins to Climate Change

“…Numerous studies have developed and applied participatory approaches for climate change adaptation [23][24][25], including for the management of water resources under climate change [26,27]. Quantitative simulation models are frequently used to provide detailed and important insights in the effects of water management under climate change [28][29][30].…”