Making space for proactive adaptation of rapidly changing coasts: a windows of opportunity approach

Brown, K., Naylor, L. A. and Quinn, T. (2017) Making space for proactive adaptation of rapidly changing coasts: a windows of opportunity approach. Sustainability, 9(8), 1408. (doi: 10.3390/su9081408)

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Abstract

Coastlines are very often places where the impacts of global change are felt most keenly, and they are also often sites of high values and intense use for industry, human habitation, nature conservation and recreation. In many countries, coastlines are a key contested territory for planning for climate change, and also locations where development and conservation conflicts play out. As a “test bed” for climate change adaptation, coastal regions provide valuable, but highly diverse experiences and lessons. This paper sets out to explore the lessons of coastal planning and development for the implementation of proactive adaptation, and the possibility to move from adaptation visions to actual adaptation governance and planning. Using qualitative analysis of interviews and workshops, we first examine what the barriers are to proactive adaptation at the coast, and how current policy and practice frames are leading to avoidable lock-ins and other maladaptive decisions that are narrowing our adaptation options. Using examples from UK, we then identify adaptation windows that can be opened, reframed or transformed to set the course for proactive adaptation which links high level top-down legislative requirements with local bottom-up actions. We explore how these windows can be harnessed so that space for proactive adaptation increases and maladaptive decisions are reduced.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Naylor, Dr Larissa
Authors: Brown, K., Naylor, L. A., and Quinn, T.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Geographical and Earth Sciences
Journal Name:Sustainability
Publisher:MDPI
ISSN:2071-1050
ISSN (Online):2071-1050
Copyright Holders:Copyright © 2017 The Authors
First Published:First published in Sustainability 9(8): 1408
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

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Project CodeAward NoProject NamePrincipal InvestigatorFunder's NameFunder RefLead Dept
664571Multi-scale adaptations to climate change and social-ecological sustainability in coastal areas (MAGIC)Larissa NaylorNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)NE/L008807/1SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHICAL & EARTH SCIENCES
678081Developing a sustainable, ecosystem-based coastal climate change adaption routemap for policy makers and practitionersLarissa NaylorNatural Environment Research Council (NERC)NE/M010546/1SCHOOL OF GEOGRAPHICAL & EARTH SCIENCES