Climate change vulnerability assessments as catalysts for social learning: four case studies in south-eastern Australia

Journal Article · Sun Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change

OSTI ID:1038487

Preston, Benjamin L ^[1]

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1. ORNL

Technical assessments of vulnerability and/or risk are increasingly being undertaken to assess the impacts of climate change. Underlying this is the belief that they will bring clarity to questions regarding the scale of institutional investments required, plausible adaptation policies and measures, and the timing of their implementation. Despite the perceived importance of technical assessments in 'evidence-based' decision environments, assessments cannot be undertaken independent of values and politics, nor are they capable of eliminating the uncertainty that clouds decision-making on climate adaptation As such, assessments can trigger as many questions as they answer, leaving practitioners and stakeholders to question their value. This paper explores the value of vulnerability/risk assessments in climate change adaptation planning processes as a catalyst for learning in four case studies in Southeastern Australia. Data were collected using qualitative interviews with stakeholders involved in the assessments and analysed using a social learning framework. This analysis revealed that detailed and tangible strategies or actions often do not emerge directly from technical assessments. However, it also revealed that the assessments became important platforms for social learning. In providing these platforms, assessments present opportunities to question initial assumptions, explore multiple framings of an issue, generate new information, and galvanise support for collective actions. This study highlights the need for more explicit recognition and understanding of the important role social learning plays in climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning more broadly.

• Research Organization: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)
• Sponsoring Organization: ORNL LDRD Director's R&D
• DOE Contract Number: AC05-00OR22725
• OSTI ID: 1038487
• Journal Information: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change, Journal Name: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies for Global Change; ISSN MASCFV; ISSN 1381-2386
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
AUSTRALIA
Adaptation
CATALYSTS
CLIMATES
CLOUDS
Climate change
DECISION MAKING
IMPLEMENTATION
LEARNING
PLANNING
Risk assessment
Social learning
VULNERABILITY
Vulnerability assessment