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An Evolutionary Approach to Adaptive Capacity Assessment: A Case Study of Soufriere, Saint Lucia

Author

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  • James Ryan Hogarth

    (Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment and School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford; Overseas Development Institute, 203 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NJ, UK)

  • Dariusz Wójcik

    (Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment and School of Geography and the Environment, University of Oxford; Overseas Development Institute, 203 Blackfriars Road, London SE1 8NJ, UK)

Abstract

This paper assesses the capacity of Soufriere, Saint Lucia to adapt to climate change. A community-based vulnerability assessment was conducted that employed semi-structured interviews with community members. The results were analysed using the Local Adaptive Capacity (LAC) framework, which characterises adaptive capacity based on five elements: asset base; institutions and entitlements; knowledge and information; innovation; and flexible forward-looking decision-making and governance. Beyond providing an in-depth analysis of Soufriere’s capacity to adapt to climate change, the paper argues that the elements of the LAC framework largely correspond with an evolutionary perspective on adaptive capacity. However, other evolutionary themes—such as structure, history, path-dependency, scale, agency, conservation of diversity, and the perils of specialisation—should also be taken into account.

Suggested Citation

  • James Ryan Hogarth & Dariusz Wójcik, 2016. "An Evolutionary Approach to Adaptive Capacity Assessment: A Case Study of Soufriere, Saint Lucia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(3), pages 1-23, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:8:y:2016:i:3:p:228-:d:64944
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Caroline Aboda & Pål Olav Vedeld & Patrick Byakagaba & Haakon Lein & Charlotte Anne Nakakaawa, 2023. "Household capacity to adapt to resettlement due to land acquisition for the oil refinery development project in Uganda," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 25(11), pages 13125-13147, November.
    2. Chu, Andrea & Lin, Ying-Chen & Chiueh, Pei-Te, 2017. "Incorporating the effect of urbanization in measuring climate adaptive capacity," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 68(C), pages 28-38.
    3. Anamaria Bukvic, 2019. "Visualizing the Possibility of Relocation: Coastal Relocation Leaf," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-12, June.

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