REGIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE
ADAPTATIONKNOWLEDGEPLATFORM for Asia
Policy Research Brief No 3
Governance of Adaptation
May 2012
This Policy Research Brief draws on work in progress related to the Adaptation Knowledge Platform to disseminate and exchange adaptation knowledge with a wider audience. We welcome your suggestions or comments.
This policy research brief was written by Louis Lebel (Unit for Social and Environmental Research, Chiang Mai University, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. ) on behalf of the Adaptation Knowledge Platform. It summarizes the key messages from two journal articles in preparation on the governance of adaptation.
Copyright © AIT-UNEP RRC.AP 2012
Bangkok, Thailand
May 2012
How to obtain the digital copy:
The Policy Research Brief No 3 GOVERNANCE OF ADAPTATION can be electronically down loaded from the www.asiapacificadapt.net
This digital publication may be reproduced in whole or in part and in any form for educational or nonprofit purposes without special permission from the copyright holder, provided acknowledgement of the source is made. The Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia would appreciate receiving a copy of any publication that uses this report as a source.
his policy brief argues that the quality of governance is an important determinant of successful adaptation. Governance is understood here as the system of formal and informal rules, rule-making systems, and actornetworks that steer societies.
There are four key messages.
- First, how decisions are made about adaptation is important for legitimacy, and ultimately, for who benefits from, and who is burdened by, interventions.
- Second, equitable and fair outcomes are more likely when participation is inclusive and deliberations open and well-informed.
- Third how well decisions are acted upon depends on knowledge, coordination, leadership, resources and monitoring.
- Fourth, significant uncertainties about impacts of climate change and the effects of policy interventions in specific places imply that adaptive forms of governance which foster learning will be crucial.
The brief derives from the experiences of the Adaptation Knowledge Platform. It draws on issues raised at the March 2012 Adaptation Forum held in Bangkok’s United Nations Conference Centre and a series of sharing and learning seminars.
