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Institutional barriers to climate change adaptation in decentralised governance structures: Transport planning in England

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  • Benjamin JA Walker

    (Politics, College of Social Sciences and International Studies, The University of Exeter, UK)

  • W Neil Adger

    (Geography, College of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Exeter, UK)

  • Duncan Russel

    (Politics, College of Social Sciences and International Studies, The University of Exeter, UK)

Abstract

Climate change poses governance challenges at diverse scales and across the dimensions of risk and responsibility. Local governments are central to the delivery of action on both decarbonisation and adapting to the risks of climate change. Yet there are likely to be significant differences across local governments in terms of their capacity to act on climate change. This research documents and explains differences in the capacity to act within response spaces to risks to transport infrastructure and systems. We examine 80 Transport Plans across local governments in England, specifically their efforts to incorporate climate change adaptation. Data are generated from content analysis of the 80 documents and key informant interviews in a sample of 15% of authorities. The results show significant disparities across authorities. We explain differential outcomes as dependent on internal coordination, local prioritisation processes and political opposition. The results highlight that there are significant governance barriers associated with differential response capacity in the face of climate change risks.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin JA Walker & W Neil Adger & Duncan Russel, 2015. "Institutional barriers to climate change adaptation in decentralised governance structures: Transport planning in England," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 52(12), pages 2250-2266, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:urbstu:v:52:y:2015:i:12:p:2250-2266
    DOI: 10.1177/0042098014544759
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kirstin Dow & Frans Berkhout & Benjamin L. Preston & Richard J. T. Klein & Guy Midgley & M. Rebecca Shaw, 2013. "Limits to adaptation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(4), pages 305-307, April.
    2. Susanne Moser, 2012. "Adaptation, mitigation, and their disharmonious discontents: an essay," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 111(2), pages 165-175, March.
    3. W. Neil Adger & Tara Quinn & Irene Lorenzoni & Conor Murphy & John Sweeney, 2013. "Changing social contracts in climate-change adaptation," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 3(4), pages 330-333, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Issah Justice Musah-Surugu & Albert Ahenkan & Justcie Nyigmah Bawole, 2019. "Too weak to lead: motivation, agenda setting and constraints of local government to implement decentralized climate change adaptation policy in Ghana," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 587-607, April.
    2. Mendizabal, Maddalen & Heidrich, Oliver & Feliu, Efren & García-Blanco, Gemma & Mendizabal, Alaitz, 2018. "Stimulating urban transition and transformation to achieve sustainable and resilient cities," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 94(C), pages 410-418.

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