IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/spr/masfgc/v26y2021i7d10.1007_s11027-021-09966-1.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Sustainability challenges of adaptation interventions: do the challenges vary with implementing organizations?

Author

Listed:
  • Syed Mahbubur Rahman

    (American International University-Bangladesh (AIUB))

Abstract

Adaptation to climate change is a necessary response to reduce risk and vulnerability and to realize opportunities. However, not all adaptation measures bring about positive changes. In some cases, local-level adaptations may shift risks to other vulnerable places and communities. Both maladaptation, generally recognized to be undesirable at least in terms of the results it generates, and sustainable adaptation has been studied in diverse settings and for a range of climate-related risks. Sustainable adaptation aims at reducing poverty and enhancing social equity and environmental integrity in concert with risk reduction. However, there is limited research on how interventions by state and non-state implementing entities differ in addressing issues related to sustainable adaptation and the threat of maladaptation. In this paper, we use case study analysis to focus on three specific adaptation interventions—homestead plinth level raise, pond sand filter for safe drinking water, and surface and groundwater irrigation—in Bangladesh. Drawing on in-depth interviews with stakeholders facing recurring drought and coastal hazards, we emphasis on the implemented interventions and the roles played by a local NGO and central government. The first two interventions were implemented by a local NGO and the irrigation system by the government. Although the selected interventions led to many benefits, including reduced community vulnerability, enhanced resilience, and adaptive capacity, the stakeholders also identified sustainability challenges. NGO-implemented interventions, for example, suffer from beneficiary selection bias, while state-implemented intervention does not conform, at least partly, to environmental integrity. To limit maladaptation, it is necessarily better to understand beneficiary attitude(s) towards an intervention. Findings can help inform future interventions by raising awareness of agencies’ roles and responsibilities in implementation and recognizing the stakeholders’ adaptation needs and priorities.

Suggested Citation

  • Syed Mahbubur Rahman, 2021. "Sustainability challenges of adaptation interventions: do the challenges vary with implementing organizations?," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 26(7), pages 1-18, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:26:y:2021:i:7:d:10.1007_s11027-021-09966-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s11027-021-09966-1
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://link.springer.com/10.1007/s11027-021-09966-1
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: Access to the full text of the articles in this series is restricted.
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1007/s11027-021-09966-1?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Roy Brouwer & Sonia Akter & Luke Brander & Enamul Haque, 2007. "Socioeconomic Vulnerability and Adaptation to Environmental Risk: A Case Study of Climate Change and Flooding in Bangladesh," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 27(2), pages 313-326, April.
    2. Naghmeh Nasiritousi & Mattias Hjerpe & Björn-Ola Linnér, 2016. "The roles of non-state actors in climate change governance: understanding agency through governance profiles," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 16(1), pages 109-126, February.
    3. Singh, Ajay S. & Zwickle, Adam & Bruskotter, Jeremy T. & Wilson, Robyn, 2017. "The perceived psychological distance of climate change impacts and its influence on support for adaptation policy," Environmental Science & Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C), pages 93-99.
    4. Gustavo Anríquez & Kostas Stamoulis, 2007. "Rural development and poverty reduction: is agriculture still the key?," The Electronic Journal of Agricultural and Development Economics, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, vol. 4(1), pages 5-46.
    5. Rahman, Syed Mahbubur & Mori, Akihisa, 2020. "Dissemination and perception of adaptation co-benefits: Insights from the coastal area of Bangladesh," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 20(C).
    6. Linda Shi & Eric Chu & Isabelle Anguelovski & Alexander Aylett & Jessica Debats & Kian Goh & Todd Schenk & Karen C. Seto & David Dodman & Debra Roberts & J. Timmons Roberts & Stacy D. VanDeveer, 2016. "Roadmap towards justice in urban climate adaptation research," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 6(2), pages 131-137, February.
    7. Amireeta Rawlani & Benjamin Sovacool, 2011. "Building responsiveness to climate change through community based adaptation in Bangladesh," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 16(8), pages 845-863, December.
    8. Siri H. Eriksen & Karen O'Brien, 2007. "Vulnerability, poverty and the need for sustainable adaptation measures," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 7(4), pages 337-352, July.
    9. Kasia Paprocki, 2018. "Threatening Dystopias: Development and Adaptation Regimes in Bangladesh," Annals of the American Association of Geographers, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 108(4), pages 955-973, July.
    10. Elisabeth Corell & Michele M. Betsill, 2001. "A Comparative Look at NGO Influence in International Environmental Negotiations: Desertification and Climate Change," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 1(4), pages 86-107, November.
    11. Karen O’Brien and Robin Leichenko, 2007. "Human Security, Vulnerability and Sustainable Adaptation," Human Development Occasional Papers (1992-2007) HDOCPA-2007-09, Human Development Report Office (HDRO), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).
    12. Sawon Anik & Mohammed Khan, 2012. "Climate change adaptation through local knowledge in the north eastern region of Bangladesh," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 17(8), pages 879-896, December.
    13. Alexandra Lesnikowski & James Ford & Robbert Biesbroek & Lea Berrang-Ford & Michelle Maillet & Malcolm Araos & Stephanie E. Austin, 2017. "What does the Paris Agreement mean for adaptation?," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 17(7), pages 825-831, October.
    14. Alauddin, Mohammad & Sarker, Md Abdur Rashid, 2014. "Climate change and farm-level adaptation decisions and strategies in drought-prone and groundwater-depleted areas of Bangladesh: an empirical investigation," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 106(C), pages 204-213.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Vittorio Serra & Antonio Ledda & Maria Grazia Gavina Ruiu & Giovanna Calia & Andrea De Montis, 2022. "Integrating Adaptation to Climate Change into Sustainable Development Policy and Planning," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-19, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Rahman, Syed Mahbubur & Mori, Akihisa & Rahman, Syed Mustafizur, 2022. "How does climate adaptation co-benefits help scale-up solar-powered irrigation? A case of the Barind Tract, Bangladesh," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 182(C), pages 1039-1048.
    2. Alam, GM Monirul & Alam, Khorshed & Mushtaq, Shahbaz, 2016. "Influence of institutional access and social capital on adaptation decision: Empirical evidence from hazard-prone rural households in Bangladesh," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 130(C), pages 243-251.
    3. H.M. Tuihedur Rahman & Gordon M. Hickey, 2020. "An Analytical Framework for Assessing Context-Specific Rural Livelihood Vulnerability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(14), pages 1-26, July.
    4. Shannon McNeeley, 2012. "Examining barriers and opportunities for sustainable adaptation to climate change in Interior Alaska," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 111(3), pages 835-857, April.
    5. Kian Goh, 0. "Urbanising climate justice: constructing scales and politicising difference," Cambridge Journal of Regions, Economy and Society, Cambridge Political Economy Society, vol. 13(3), pages 559-574.
    6. Asirul Haque & Md. Habibur Rahman & Md. Habibur Rahman & Dilara Rahman, 2019. "An Evaluation of Sea Level Rise Vulnerability and Resilience Strategy to Climate Change in the Coastline of Bangladesh," International Journal of Environmental Sciences & Natural Resources, Juniper Publishers Inc., vol. 18(2), pages 56-70, March.
    7. M. MEHEDI HASAN & Md. ABDUR RASHID SARKER & JEFF GOW, 2016. "Assessment Of Climate Change Impacts On Aman And Boro Rice Yields In Bangladesh," Climate Change Economics (CCE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 7(03), pages 1-21, August.
    8. Kian Goh, 2020. "Flows in formation: The global-urban networks of climate change adaptation," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 57(11), pages 2222-2240, August.
    9. Anne-Kathrin Weber & Lena Partzsch, 2018. "Barking Up the Right Tree? NGOs and Corporate Power for Deforestation-Free Supply Chains," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-18, October.
    10. Norio Saito, 2013. "Mainstreaming climate change adaptation in least developed countries in South and Southeast Asia," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 18(6), pages 825-849, August.
    11. Busby, Joshua & Smith, Todd G. & Krishnan, Nisha & Wight, Charles & Vallejo-Gutierrez, Santiago, 2018. "In harm's way: Climate security vulnerability in Asia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 112(C), pages 88-118.
    12. Islam, Zeenatul & Sabiha, Noor E & Salim, Ruhul, 2022. "Integrated environment-smart agricultural practices: A strategy towards climate-resilient agriculture," Economic Analysis and Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 59-72.
    13. Mondol, Md Anarul Haque & Zhu, Xuan & Dunkerley, David & Henley, Benjamin J., 2021. "Observed meteorological drought trends in Bangladesh identified with the Effective Drought Index (EDI)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 255(C).
    14. Thu-Huong Nguyen & Oz Sahin & Michael Howes, 2021. "Climate Change Adaptation Influences and Barriers Impacting the Asian Agricultural Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(13), pages 1-17, June.
    15. Luca Tiberti & Marco Tiberti, 2015. "Rural Policies, Price Change and Poverty in Tanzania: An Agricultural Household Model-Based Assessment," Journal of African Economies, Centre for the Study of African Economies, vol. 24(2), pages 193-229.
    16. Jiayu Ding & Yuewei Wang & Chaoyue Li, 2024. "A Dual-Layer Complex Network-Based Quantitative Flood Vulnerability Assessment Method of Transportation Systems," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-27, May.
    17. Nagisa Shiiba & Hide-Fumi Yokoo & Voravee Saengavut & Siraprapa Bumrungkit, 2023. "Ambiguity Aversion And Individual Adaptation To Climate Change: Evidence From A Farmer Survey In Northeastern Thailand," Climate Change Economics (CCE), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 14(01), pages 1-29, February.
    18. Lindsay C. Stringer & Mark S. Reed & Andrew J. Dougill & Mary K. Seely & Martin Rokitzki, 2007. "Implementing the UNCCD: Participatory challenges," Natural Resources Forum, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 31(3), pages 198-211, August.
    19. George Kyriakarakos & Athanasios T. Balafoutis & Dionysis Bochtis, 2020. "Proposing a Paradigm Shift in Rural Electrification Investments in Sub-Saharan Africa through Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, April.
    20. Neelke Doorn, 2015. "The Blind Spot in Risk Ethics: Managing Natural Hazards," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 35(3), pages 354-360, March.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:spr:masfgc:v:26:y:2021:i:7:d:10.1007_s11027-021-09966-1. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.springer.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.