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Adaptive capacity: exploring the research frontier

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  • Colette Mortreux
  • Jon Barnett

Abstract

In the past 15 years there has been rapid growth in research on adaptive capacity. This article critically reviews this literature, describing changes in the field over time, and highlighting the new frontiers in research. It explains how research on adaptive capacity began and remains heavily influenced by a one‐size‐fits‐all assets‐based theory that assumes that adaptation action is commensurate with the possession of capitals. It explains how this theory has been unable to explain how adaptation is actually practiced across diverse contexts and scales. The article then highlights new research, particularly that which extends analysis to include psycho‐social and institutional dimensions applied at smaller scales of analysis. This shift recognizes and helps overcome the limits of traditional approaches to adaptive capacity, but the field still lacks theories that can explain the relationship between adaptive capacity and adaptation outcomes. Drawing on findings from disaster risk reduction and behavioral science literatures, this article outlines a framework comprised of six factors that better explain how capacity is translated and mobilized into action, namely: risk attitudes, personal experience, trust in and expectations of authorities, place attachment, competing concerns, and household composition and dynamics. WIREs Clim Change 2017, 8:e467. doi: 10.1002/wcc.467 This article is categorized under: Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change > Institutions for Adaptation

Suggested Citation

  • Colette Mortreux & Jon Barnett, 2017. "Adaptive capacity: exploring the research frontier," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 8(4), July.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:wirecc:v:8:y:2017:i:4:n:e467
    DOI: 10.1002/wcc.467
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    1. Kieran M. Findlater & Terre Satterfield & Milind Kandlikar, 2019. "Farmers’ Risk‐Based Decision Making Under Pervasive Uncertainty: Cognitive Thresholds and Hazy Hedging," Risk Analysis, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 39(8), pages 1755-1770, August.
    2. Rao, Nitya & Singh, Chandni & Solomon, Divya & Camfield, Laura & Sidiki, Rahina & Angula, Margaret & Poonacha, Prathigna & Sidibé, Amadou & Lawson, Elaine T., 2020. "Managing risk, changing aspirations and household dynamics: Implications for wellbeing and adaptation in semi-arid Africa and India," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 125(C).
    3. Rakin Abrar & Showmitra Kumar Sarkar & Kashfia Tasnim Nishtha & Swapan Talukdar & Shahfahad & Atiqur Rahman & Abu Reza Md Towfiqul Islam & Amir Mosavi, 2022. "Assessing the Spatial Mapping of Heat Vulnerability under Urban Heat Island (UHI) Effect in the Dhaka Metropolitan Area," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-24, April.
    4. Olivia Serdeczny & Marina Andrijevic & Claire Fyson & Tabea Lissner & Inga Menke & Carl-Friedrich Schleussner & Emily Theokritoff & Adelle Thomas, 2024. "Climatic risks to adaptive capacity," Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Springer, vol. 29(1), pages 1-16, January.
    5. Shu-Hsun Chen & Bor-Wen Tsai, 2023. "Exploration of the Adaptive Capacity of Residents of Remote Mountain Villages," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-15, March.
    6. Raphael J. Nawrotzki & Marina Tebeck & Sven Harten & Venya Blankenagel, 2023. "Climate change vulnerability hotspots in Costa Rica: constructing a sub-national index," Journal of Environmental Studies and Sciences, Springer;Association of Environmental Studies and Sciences, vol. 13(3), pages 473-499, September.
    7. Carmen E. Elrick-Barr & Timothy F. Smith, 2022. "Current Information Provision Rarely Helps Coastal Households Adapt to Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-12, March.
    8. Vasquez Caballero, Smit & Salgueiro-Otero, Diego & Ojea, Elena, 2023. "The Role of Catch Portfolios in Characterizing Species' Economic Linkages and Fishers' Responses to Climate Change Impacts," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 205(C).
    9. Angela Mallette & Timothy F. Smith & Carmen Elrick-Barr & Jessica Blythe & Ryan Plummer, 2021. "Understanding Preferences for Coastal Climate Change Adaptation: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-22, August.
    10. Zobeidi, Tahereh & Yaghoubi, Jafar & Yazdanpanah, Masoud, 2022. "Farmers’ incremental adaptation to water scarcity: An application of the model of private proactive adaptation to climate change (MPPACC)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 264(C).

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