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A global assessment of policy tools to support climate adaptation

Publication ,  Journal Article
Ulibarri, N; Ajibade, I; Galappaththi, EK; Joe, ET; Lesnikowski, A; Mach, KJ; Musah-Surugu, JI; Nagle Alverio, G; Segnon, AC; Siders, AR ...
Published in: Climate Policy
January 1, 2022

Governments, businesses, and civil society organizations have diverse policy tools to incentivize adaptation. Policy tools can shape the type and extent of adaptation, and therefore, function either as barriers or enablers for reducing risk and vulnerability. Using data from a systematic review of academic literature on global adaptation responses to climate change (n = 1549 peer-reviewed articles), we categorize the types of policy tools used to shape climate adaptation. We apply qualitative and quantitative analyses to assess the contexts where particular tools are used, along with equity implications for groups targeted by the tools, and the tools’ relationships with transformational adaptation indicators such as the depth, scope, and speed of adaptation. We find diverse types of tools documented across sectors and geographic regions. We also identify a mismatch between the tools that consider equity and those that yield more transformational adaptations. Direct regulations, plans, and capacity building are associated with higher depth and scope of adaptation (thus transformational adaptation), while economic instruments, information provisioning, and networks are not; the latter tools, however, are more likely to target marginalized groups in their design and implementation. We identify multiple research gaps, including a need to assess instrument mixes rather than single tools and to assess adaptations that result from policy implementation. Key policy insights Information-based approaches, networks, and economic instruments are the most frequently documented adaptation policy tools worldwide. Direct regulations, plans, and capacity building are associated with higher depth and scope of adaptation, and thus more transformational adaptation. Capacity building, economic instruments, networks, and information provisioning approaches are more likely to target specific marginalized groups and thus equity challenges. There are many regions and sectors where certain tools are not widely documented (e.g. regulations and plans in Africa and Asia), representing a key research gap.

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Published In

Climate Policy

DOI

EISSN

1752-7457

ISSN

1469-3062

Publication Date

January 1, 2022

Volume

22

Issue

1

Start / End Page

77 / 96

Related Subject Headings

  • Environmental Sciences
  • 4407 Policy and administration
  • 4101 Climate change impacts and adaptation
  • 3702 Climate change science
  • 1801 Law
  • 1605 Policy and Administration
  • 1402 Applied Economics
 

Citation

APA
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ICMJE
MLA
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Ulibarri, N., Ajibade, I., Galappaththi, E. K., Joe, E. T., Lesnikowski, A., Mach, K. J., … Zommers, Z. (2022). A global assessment of policy tools to support climate adaptation. Climate Policy, 22(1), 77–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2021.2002251
Ulibarri, N., I. Ajibade, E. K. Galappaththi, E. T. Joe, A. Lesnikowski, K. J. Mach, J. I. Musah-Surugu, et al. “A global assessment of policy tools to support climate adaptation.” Climate Policy 22, no. 1 (January 1, 2022): 77–96. https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2021.2002251.
Ulibarri N, Ajibade I, Galappaththi EK, Joe ET, Lesnikowski A, Mach KJ, et al. A global assessment of policy tools to support climate adaptation. Climate Policy. 2022 Jan 1;22(1):77–96.
Ulibarri, N., et al. “A global assessment of policy tools to support climate adaptation.” Climate Policy, vol. 22, no. 1, Jan. 2022, pp. 77–96. Scopus, doi:10.1080/14693062.2021.2002251.
Ulibarri N, Ajibade I, Galappaththi EK, Joe ET, Lesnikowski A, Mach KJ, Musah-Surugu JI, Nagle Alverio G, Segnon AC, Siders AR, Sotnik G, Campbell D, Chalastani VI, Jagannathan K, Khavhagali V, Reckien D, Shang Y, Singh C, Zommers Z. A global assessment of policy tools to support climate adaptation. Climate Policy. 2022 Jan 1;22(1):77–96.

Published In

Climate Policy

DOI

EISSN

1752-7457

ISSN

1469-3062

Publication Date

January 1, 2022

Volume

22

Issue

1

Start / End Page

77 / 96

Related Subject Headings

  • Environmental Sciences
  • 4407 Policy and administration
  • 4101 Climate change impacts and adaptation
  • 3702 Climate change science
  • 1801 Law
  • 1605 Policy and Administration
  • 1402 Applied Economics