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Hard and soft paths for climate change adaptation

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  • Benjamin K. Sovacool

Abstract

Amory Lovins' distinction between 'soft' and 'hard' paths of energy technologies is applied, mutatis mutandis , to humanity's efforts to adapt to climate change. It is argued that hard adaptive measures involve capital-intensive, large, complex, inflexible technology and infrastructure, whereas soft adaptive measures prioritize natural capital, community control, simplicity and appropriateness. The prevalence of these two types of adaptation pathways is illustrated through two case studies from the Maldives: The Safer Island Development Program and the Integrating Climate Change Risks Program. Policymakers must be aware that hard and soft adaptation measures may trade off with each other, and give both paths due consideration.

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin K. Sovacool, 2011. "Hard and soft paths for climate change adaptation," Climate Policy, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(4), pages 1177-1183, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:tcpoxx:v:11:y:2011:i:4:p:1177-1183
    DOI: 10.1080/14693062.2011.579315
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elinor Ostrom, 2014. "A Polycentric Approach For Coping With Climate Change," Annals of Economics and Finance, Society for AEF, vol. 15(1), pages 97-134, May.
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    1. James Ford & Diana King, 2015. "A framework for examining adaptation readiness," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 20(4), pages 505-526, April.
    2. Archana Raghavan Sathyan & Christoph Funk & Thomas Aenis & Lutz Breuer, 2018. "Climate Vulnerability in Rainfed Farming: Analysis from Indian Watersheds," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(9), pages 1-27, September.
    3. Benjamin Sovacool, 2012. "Perceptions of climate change risks and resilient island planning in the Maldives," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 17(7), pages 731-752, October.
    4. Christopher A. Freimund & Gregg M. Garfin & Laura M. Norman & Larry A. Fisher & James L. Buizer, 2022. "Flood resilience in paired US–Mexico border cities: a study of binational risk perceptions," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 112(2), pages 1247-1271, June.
    5. H. M. Tuihedur Rahman & Kate Sherren & Danika van Proosdij, 2019. "Institutional Innovation for Nature-Based Coastal Adaptation: Lessons from Salt Marsh Restoration in Nova Scotia, Canada," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(23), pages 1-26, November.
    6. André Nogueira & Weslynne Ashton & Carlos Teixeira & Elizabeth Lyon & Jonathan Pereira, 2020. "Infrastructuring the Circular Economy," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-24, April.
    7. Meenakshi Shankar Poti & Jean Huge & Kartik Shanker & Nico Koedam & Farid Dahdouh-Guebas, 2022. "Learning from small islands in the Western Indian Ocean (WIO): A systematic review of responses to environmental change," ULB Institutional Repository 2013/346937, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    8. Yi Yang & Beibei Liu & Peng Wang & Wei‐Qiang Chen & Timothy M. Smith, 2020. "Toward sustainable climate change adaptation," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 24(2), pages 318-330, April.
    9. Benjamin Sovacool, 2012. "Expert views of climate change adaptation in the Maldives," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 114(2), pages 295-300, September.
    10. Mohamed Shumais & Ibrahim Mohamed, 2020. "What makes an environmental trust fund successful? A case study of the Maldives," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 161(2), pages 327-344, July.
    11. Richmond, Noah & Sovacool, Benjamin K., 2012. "Bolstering resilience in the coconut kingdom: Improving adaptive capacity to climate change in Vanuatu," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 50(C), pages 843-848.
    12. Graham McDowell & Leila Harris & Michele Koppes & Martin F. Price & Kai M.A. Chan & Dhawa G. Lama, 2020. "From needs to actions: prospects for planned adaptations in high mountain communities," Climatic Change, Springer, vol. 163(2), pages 953-972, November.

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