Challenges to adaptation: a fundamental concept for the shared socio-economic pathways and beyond

ECU Author/Contributor (non-ECU co-authors, if there are any, appear on document)

Dale S.,Romero-Lankao,Patricia,Schweizer,Vanessa J.,Bee Rothman (Creator)

Institution

East Carolina University (ECU )

Web Site: http://www.ecu.edu/lib/

Abstract: The framework for the new scenarios being developed for climate research callsfor the development of a set of Shared Socioeconomic Pathways (SSPs), which are meant todiffer in terms of their challenges to mitigation and challenges to adaptation. In order for thescenario process to fulfill its goals, the research and policy communities need to develop ashared understanding of these concepts. This paper focuses on challenges to adaptation. Webegin by situating this new concept in the context of the rich literatures related to inter aliaadaptation, vulnerability, and resilience. We argue that a proper characterization of challenges to adaptation requires a rich, exploration of the concept, which goes beyond meredescription. This has a number of implications for the operationalization of the concept inthe basic and extended versions of the SSPs. First, the elements comprising challenges toadaptation must include a wide range of socioeconomic and even some (non-climatic)biophysical factors. Second, careful consideration must be given to differences in thesefactors across scales, as well as cross-scale interactions. Third, any representation of theconcept will require both quantitative and qualitative elements. The scenario frameworkoffers the opportunity for the SSPs and full scenarios to be of greater value than has been thecase in past exercises to both Integrated Assessment Modeling (IAM) and Impacts,Adaptation, and Vulnerability (IAV) researchers, but this will require a renegotiation of thetraditional, primarily unidirectional relationship between the two communities.

Additional Information

Publication

Other

Language: English

Date: 2014

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