Climate change, Governance

Water scarcity in rural South Africa is an escalating crisis driven by climate change, governance inefficiencies, and socio-economic disparities. This perspective synthesizes secondary data through the Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Socio-Ecological Systems (SES) frameworks, offering a novel lens that bridges macro-policy failures with micro-community resilience, unlike single-framework analyses. Drawing on existing case studies, including Cape Town’s “Day Zero” drought and the Greater Giyani Municipality, we highlight both current advances, such as smart metering, rainwater harvesting, and decentralized purification systems, and persistent vulnerabilities, including erratic rainfall, declining dam levels, and under-resourced infrastructure. The IWRM lens exposes gaps in institutional coordination, policy enforcement, and infrastructure investment that undermine equitable water distribution. The SES perspective reveals how rural communities navigate scarcity through informal networks, traditional knowledge, and local adaptation strategies, but also illustrates the limitations of these responses in the absence of state support. We argue that neither top-down governance nor grassroots innovation alone can achieve water security. Instead, sustainable solutions require hybrid, multi-scalar strategies that align regulatory reforms with community-driven resilience. Future efforts must prioritize adaptive infrastructure, context-sensitive technologies, and inclusive governance frameworks to build climate-resilient and equitable rural water systems. South Africa’s experience offers instructive lessons for global water governance, demonstrating the need for holistic, systems-based approaches that integrate technical, social, and institutional dimensions. This perspective contributes to a strategic framing for future policy and research aimed at ensuring long-term water security and sustainability in vulnerable contexts.

AbstractThe impacts of climate change do not adhere to conventional governance boundaries. Floods for example do not stop at the state border, nor are storm surges contained within local government jurisdictions. Whilst this may appear self-evident, this \u27inconvenient institutional truth\u27 poses considerable challenges to existing and deeply embedded governance frameworks. Despite growing recognition that implementing effective adaptation initiatives will require transcending artificially imposed bureaucratic and/or administrative boundaries, the cross-boundary implications of climate change adaptation have been largely ignored within the Australian context (partly as a result of the historical context and nature of Australian federalism). There are significant implications for the evolving national role in climate change adaptation, and the relationship to cross-border state issues that this project identifies and highlights. This project focuses on learning from existing cross-border regulatory mechanisms with a view to strengthening and improving cross-border climate change adaptation practices in Australia.Please cite this report as:Steele, W, Eslami-Andargoli, L, Crick, F, Serrao-Neumann, S, Singh-Peterson, L, Dale, P, Low Choy, D, Sporne, I, Shearer, S, Iotti, A 2013 Learning from cross-border mechanisms to support climate change adaptation in Australia, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 87AbstractThe impacts of climate change do not adhere to conventional governance boundaries. Floods for example do not stop at the state border, nor are storm surges contained within local government jurisdictions. Whilst this may appear self-evident, this \u27inconvenient institutional truth\u27 poses considerable challenges to existing and deeply embedded governance frameworks. Despite growing recognition that implementing effective adaptation initiatives will require transcending artificially imposed bureaucratic and/or administrative boundaries, the cross-boundary implications of climate change adaptation have been largely ignored within the Australian context (partly as a result of the historical context and nature of Australian federalism). There are significant implications for the evolving national role in climate change adaptation, and the relationship to cross-border state issues that this project identifies and highlights. This project focuses on learning from existing cross-border regulatory mechanisms with a view to strengthening and improving cross-border climate change adaptation practices in Australia.By: Wendy Steele, Leila Eslami-Andargoli, Florence Crick, Silvia Serrao-Neumann, Lila Singh-Peterson, Pat Dale, Darryl Low Choy, Ilva Sporne, Scott Shearer and Anne-Sophie Lotti

The Green Climate Fund (GCF) is the primary financial mechanism under the Paris Agreement, yet its governance architecture remains underexplored theoretically. This study examines how multiple decision centers and actors interact within the GCF’s governance structure and what coordination mechanisms are built into it, using a polycentric governance lens. By analyzing 43 official GCF documents (2015–2024) through qualitative content analysis and the polycentric orders framework, the study finds that the GCF’s governance structure exhibits formally institutionalized coordination mechanisms consistent with a strong polycentric order. These structural features are designed to support problem-solving and adaptive management, although their operational effectiveness requires further empirical investigation. Contributions include a replicable, document-based coding and network-analysis method for characterizing polycentric governance, along with evidence that formal decentralization in the GCF coexists with a concentration of documented coordination ties among a small core of actors.

Abstract This research examines ways to build adaptive capacity to climate change, through a case study of organisations that participated in the response to Queensland’s major flood disaster in Queensland in 2010/11. The research applied a network governance approach, including social network analysis and qualitative investigations, to the communities of Rockhampton, Emerald and Brisbane. The study was designed to compare social networks across a range of different geographical; functional; and institutional and regulatory contexts.Primary data were obtained from organisations involved in disaster management and water management, through a telephone survey conducted March – September 2012. The network analyses examined collaboration and communication patterns; changes in the network structure from routine management to flood operations; similarities and differences between the geographic regions, and whether collaboration was correlated with trust. A cultural values analysis was then performed to identify the key values of the network actors in each region. Two workshops were conducted in Rockhampton and Brisbane to disseminate the findings to stakeholders, as well as to obtain feedback through group activities.A total of 63 organisations participated in the study. As the network analyses and visualisations indicated that the Rockhampton and Emerald networks were tightly interconnected, a single ‘Central Queensland’ (CQ) network was used for all subsequent analyses. In both Brisbane and CQ, slightly higher levels of collaboration amongst organisations were recorded during flood periods compared with routine operations; and organisations tended to provide, as well as receive, information and/or resources from their collaborators. Overall, both networks appeared to feature high trust, with only a low level of difficult ties (problematic relationships) being reported.The cultural analyses identified patterns of common values amongst participating organisations. In Brisbane, respondents placed a high value on shared information systems and resources; shared communication and language; as well as on collaboration and flexibility. In the CQ network, there was a greater emphasis on local solutions, community wellbeing and longitudinal issues (such as post-disaster supply chains for recovery). The workshop activities suggested that the current structure of Local Disaster Management Groups was heavily influential on broader network participation; and that defining an ‘effective’ disaster response was a complex issue.This study has demonstrated that a network governance approach can provide new ways of understanding the core elements of adaptive capacity, in areas such as enablers and barriers to adaptation, and translating capacity into adaptation. The key implications for policy and practice include the need for stakeholders to drive adaptation to climate change through collaboration and communication; the need for stakeholders to share a common goal and language; the need for better engagement with community, diversity and Indigenous organisations; the need to establish collaboration outside of disaster events; and the need for network governance systems to play an important role in helping to facilitate climate change adaptation. The areas identified for future research included further methodological development and longitudinal studies of social networks, understanding effective modes of communication, and the influence of the changing nature of regional Australian communities on climate change adaptation.Please cite this report as:Kinnear, S, Patison, K, Mann, J, Malone, E, Ross, V 2013, Network governance and climate change adaptation: collaborative responses to the Queensland floods, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 113.This research examines ways to build adaptive capacity to climate change, through a case study of organisations that participated in the response to Queensland’s major flood disaster in Queensland in 2010/11. The research applied a network governance approach, including social network analysis and qualitative investigations, to the communities of Rockhampton, Emerald and Brisbane. The study was designed to compare social networks across a range of different geographical; functional; and institutional and regulatory contexts.Primary data were obtained from organisations involved in disaster management and water management, through a telephone survey conducted March – September 2012. The network analyses examined collaboration and communication patterns; changes in the network structure from routine management to flood operations; similarities and differences between the geographic regions, and whether collaboration was correlated with trust. A cultural values analysis was then performed to identify the key values of the network actors in each region. Two workshops were conducted in Rockhampton and Brisbane to disseminate the findings to stakeholders, as well as to obtain feedback through group activities.A total of 63 organisations participated in the study. As the network analyses and visualisations indicated that the Rockhampton and Emerald networks were tightly interconnected, a single ‘Central Queensland’ (CQ) network was used for all subsequent analyses. In both Brisbane and CQ, slightly higher levels of collaboration amongst organisations were recorded during flood periods compared with routine operations; and organisations tended to provide, as well as receive, information and/or resources from their collaborators. Overall, both networks appeared to feature high trust, with only a low level of difficult ties (problematic relationships) being reported.The cultural analyses identified patterns of common values amongst participating organisations. In Brisbane, respondents placed a high value on shared information systems and resources; shared communication and language; as well as on collaboration and flexibility. In the CQ network, there was a greater emphasis on local solutions, community wellbeing and longitudinal issues (such as post-disaster supply chains for recovery). The workshop activities suggested that the current structure of Local Disaster Management Groups was heavily influential on broader network participation; and that defining an ‘effective’ disaster response was a complex issue.This study has demonstrated that a network governance approach can provide new ways of understanding the core elements of adaptive capacity, in areas such as enablers and barriers to adaptation, and translating capacity into adaptation. The key implications for policy and practice include the need for stakeholders to drive adaptation to climate change through collaboration and communication; the need for stakeholders to share a common goal and language; the need for better engagement with community, diversity and Indigenous organisations; the need to establish collaboration outside of disaster events; and the need for network governance systems to play an important role in helping to facilitate climate change adaptation. The areas identified for future research included further methodological development and longitudinal studies of social networks, understanding effective modes of communication, and the influence of the changing nature of regional Australian communities on climate change adaptation

Climate change poses significant challenges to agricultural sustainability in Benue State, Nigeria. This study assesses climate change governance and examines its implications for sustainable agricultural practices in the state. Using policy and legal analysis complemented by empirical evidence from agricultural stakeholders, the study reveals that although climate- related policies exist, weak implementation, limited institutional coordination, and inadequate stakeholder engagement constrain effective climate adaptation in agriculture. These governance deficiencies reduce farmers’ capacity to adopt climate- resilient and sustainable practices. The study argues that strengthening legal frameworks, enhancing institutional coherence, and promoting inclusive governance are essential for improving agricultural sustainability in Benue State. The findings contribute to ongoing debates on climate change governance and sustainable agriculture in subnational contexts.

Climate change represents a significant problem to the planet which raises concerns from stakeholder groups about corporate commitment to climate change issues. In this paper, we explore the effect of eco-innovation and climate governance on corporate commitment to climate change. We develop a unique measure for climate change commitment by considering four components, viz. whether a company supports the Sustainable Development Goal 13 on climate action, whether a company is aware that climate change can represent commercial risks or opportunities, whether a company reports Scope 3 CO2 emissions and whether a company sets a target for emission reduction. We measure eco-innovation by using a score collected from the Eikon database that reflects a company's capacity to reduce environmental costs, eco-innovation intensity measured as environmental expenditures over revenues. We also create an index computed as a composite score by totalling five ecoinnovation proxies collected from the Eikon database that reflect companies' efforts to reduce environmental impact. Concerning climate governance, we focus on three proxies, namely the existence of an environmental committee, climate incentives and the existence of sustainability reports. Based on a sample of companies listed on the London Stock Exchange for the period of 2014–2020, we find that corporate eco-innovation is positively associated with climate change commitment. We argue that firms that adopt innovative approaches to efficiently control pollution and resource use and reduce their environmental impact are more committed to climate change. We also find that climate governance is positively associated with climate change commitment. We claim that companies that integrate climate change issues in governance can help address climate change risks and opportunities. Our empirical evidence provides recommendations for managers and policymakers to promote the adoption of eco-innovative technologies and integrate climate change issues in governance, which can contribute to corporate commitment to climate change

PurposeThe study aimed to outlay the substantial relationship to information and studies on sustainable tourism, environmental sustainability and local resource governance issues. It further contextualizes the essence of natural biodiversity, ecotourism and residents integrated subsistence. Meanwhile, delving into the community’s sustainability and climate change perceptions within the Vhembe district of Limpopo Province of South Africa’s Musina Municipality.Design/methodology/approachThe municipality’s circumstances for managing its natural and tourism resources were investigated through a general review of the literature, document reviews, focus groups and field observations. The data analysis procedure was finished with manual sorting, central tendencies and frequency distribution.FindingsIt was discovered that there is a negative correlation between activities that have the potential to contribute to climate change and the environmental consequences of rural ecotourism. Sustainable ecotourism management can lead to sustainability accomplishments when tourism activities follow the principles of ethical and sustainable travel, enhancing public leadership and livelihood values.Social implicationsThe possible and present effects of ecotourism and integrated rural livelihoods on local communities, pertaining to sustainability and climate change, are brought forth with notions for significant enhancement measures for social sustainability.Originality/valueWithin the municipality, the study compares ecotourism, conservation and environmental degradation in terms of sustainability, responsible tourism and sustainable tourism. Moving forward, the essence of tourism-based public leadership within the context of community-based natural resources management and community-based tourism that supports integrated livelihoods and strategies for environmental sustainability is highlighted and can be enhanced by the endorsement of various technologies within the emerging economies.

AbstractBalancing human and environmental needs is urgent where food security and sustainability are under pressure from population increases and changing climates. Requirements of food security, social justice and environmental justice exacerbate the impact of agriculture on the supporting ecological environment. Viability of the Australian rural economy is intrinsically linked to food production and food security requiring systematic evaluation of climate change adaptation strategies for agricultural productivity.This food-systems research drew on global climate change literature to identify risks and adaptation. The transdisciplinary team applied specialist experience through collaboration in social science, economics and land-management to provide comprehensive methods to engage researchers and decision-makers making decisions across the food-system. Research focus on the dairy and horticulture sectors in the SW-WA and SEQld provided a comparative context in food-systems and regional economies. Expert knowledge was engaged through a series of panel meetings to test and challenge existing practice applying conceptual and empirical approaches in Structural Equation, Value-Chain, Supply-Chain modelling and Analytical Hierarchy modelling. This iterative action-research process provided immediate generation and transfer of expert knowledge across the involved sectors. The scenarios and adaptive strategies provide evidence-based pathways to strengthen food-systems; account for climate change mitigation and adaptation; and weather-proof regional economies in the face of climate change. Balancing human and environmental needs is urgent where food security and sustainability are under pressure from population increases and changing climates. Requirements of food security, social justice and environmental justice exacerbate the impact of agriculture on the supporting ecological environment. Viability of the Australian rural economy is intrinsically linked to food production and food security requiring systematic evaluation of climate change adaptation strategies for agricultural productivity.This food-systems research drew on global climate change literature to identify risks and adaptation. The transdisciplinary team applied specialist experience through collaboration in social science, economics and land-management to provide comprehensive methods to engage researchers and decision-makers making decisions across the food-system. Research focus on the dairy and horticulture sectors in the SW-WA and SEQld provided a comparative context in food-systems and regional economies. Expert knowledge was engaged through a series of panel meetings to test and challenge existing practice applying conceptual and empirical approaches in Structural Equation, Value-Chain, Supply-Chain modelling and Analytical Hierarchy modelling. This iterative action-research process provided immediate generation and transfer of expert knowledge across the involved sectors. The scenarios and adaptive strategies provide evidence-based pathways to strengthen food-systems; account for climate change mitigation and adaptation; and weather-proof regional economies in the face of climate change. The triple-bottom-line provided a comprehensive means of addressing social, economic and ecological requirements, and the modelling showed the interacting dynamics between these dimensions. In response to climate change, the agricultural sector must now optimise practices to address the interaction between economic, social and environmental investment. Differences in positions between the industry sector, the government and research sectors demonstrate the need for closer relationships between industry and government if climate change interventions are to be effectively targeted. Modelling shows that capacity for adaptation has a significant bearing on the success of implementing intervention strategies. Without intervention strategies to build viability and support, farm businesses are more likely to fail as a consequence of climate change. A framework of capitals that includes social components - cultural, human and social capital-, economic components -economic and physical capital - and ecological components -ecological and environmental capital - should be applied to address capacities. A priority assessment of climate change intervention strategies shows that strategies categorised as ‘Technology & Extension’ are most important in minimising risk from climate change impacts. To implement interventions to achieve ‘Food Business Resilience’, ‘Business Development’ strategies and alternative business models are most effective. ‘Research and Development’ interventions are essential to achieve enhanced ‘Adaptive Capacity’.The individual components of TBL Adaptive Capacity can be achieved through ‘Policy and Governance’ interventions for building ‘Social Capital’ capacity, ‘Research and Development’ will develop ‘Economic Capital’, and ‘Business Development’ strategies will build ‘Ecological Capital’.These strategic interventions will promote food security and maintain resilience in local food systems, agricultural production communities and markets, global industrial systems, and developing world food systems. Climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions reflect a rich conceptualisation drawing from the Australian context, but also acknowledging the moral context of global association.Please cite this report as:Wardell-Johnson, A, Uddin, N, Islam, N, Nath, T, Stockwell, B, Slade, C 2013 Creating a climate for food security: the businesses, people and landscapes in food production, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 144.Balancing human and environmental needs is urgent where food security and sustainability are under pressure from population increases and changing climates. Requirements of food security, social justice and environmental justice exacerbate the impact of agriculture on the supporting ecological environment. Viability of the Australian rural economy is intrinsically linked to food production and food security requiring systematic evaluation of climate change adaptation strategies for agricultural productivity.This food-systems research drew on global climate change literature to identify risks and adaptation. The transdisciplinary team applied specialist experience through collaboration in social science, economics and land-management to provide comprehensive methods to engage researchers and decision-makers making decisions across the food-system. Research focus on the dairy and horticulture sectors in the SW-WA and SEQld provided a comparative context in food-systems and regional economies. Expert knowledge was engaged through a series of panel meetings to test and challenge existing practice applying conceptual and empirical approaches in Structural Equation, Value-Chain, Supply-Chain modelling and Analytical Hierarchy modelling. This iterative action-research process provided immediate generation and transfer of expert knowledge across the involved sectors. The scenarios and adaptive strategies provide evidence-based pathways to strengthen food-systems; account for climate change mitigation and adaptation; and weather-proof regional economies in the face of climate change. The triple-bottom-line provided a comprehensive means of addressing social, economic and ecological requirements, and the modelling showed the interacting dynamics between these dimensions. In response to climate change, the agricultural sector must now optimise practices to address the interaction between economic, social and environmental investment. Differences in positions between the industry sector, the government and research sectors demonstrate the need for closer relationships between industry and government if climate change interventions are to be effectively targeted. Modelling shows that capacity for adaptation has a significant bearing on the success of implementing intervention strategies. Without intervention strategies to build viability and support, farm businesses are more likely to fail as a consequence of climate change. A framework of capitals that includes social components - cultural, human and social capital-, economic components -economic and physical capital - and ecological components -ecological and environmental capital - should be applied to address capacities. A priority assessment of climate change intervention strategies shows that strategies categorised as ‘Technology & Extension’ are most important in minimising risk from climate change impacts. To implement interventions to achieve ‘Food Business Resilience’, ‘Business Development’ strategies and alternative business models are most effective. ‘Research and Development’ interventions are essential to achieve enhanced ‘Adaptive Capacity’.The individual components of TBL Adaptive Capacity can be achieved through ‘Policy and Governance’ interventions for building ‘Social Capital’ capacity, ‘Research and Development’ will develop ‘Economic Capital’, and ‘Business Development’ strategies will build ‘Ecological Capital’.These strategic interventions will promote food security and maintain resilience in local food systems, agricultural production communities and markets, global industrial systems, and developing world food systems. Climate change mitigation and adaptation interventions reflect a rich conceptualisation drawing from the Australian context, but also acknowledging the moral context of global association

Abstract Asian economies are extremely vulnerable to climate due to rapid economic progress, poor governance structure and governmental performance. Keeping in view the fragility of Asia economies in context of environmental deterioration, we examine the role of climate change in shaping economic progress based on an extensive dataset of 47 Asia economies over the period of 2010–2020 through advance panel estimation models such as FMOLS and DOLS for long-run relationships, and panel-VECM for granger causality. The finding suggests a long run positive impact of climate change on economic progress. Further, the results also support the bi-directional relationship between climate change and economic development in Asia region. Hence, the current research suggest that proper policies should be warranted to balance government effectiveness for the increased implementation of environmental regulations and economic prosperity to meet the needs of society and maintain environmental sustainability in the long run. Public interest statement We examine the relationship among climate change, governance and economic development in Asia, as this region is extremely vulnerable to disastrous impact of global warming. We ascertained the long relationship among climate change, governance and economic progress and hence suggested that policy makers may design a comprehensive governance policy related to environment in order to achieve sustainable economic development in Asia.

This paper sets out a proposal for framing collective responsibility as a central element within the cooperative governance of climate change. It begins by reconstructing the analysis of climate change as a Tragedy of the Commons in the economic literature and as a Problem of Many Hands in the ethical literature. Both formalizations are shown to represent dilemmatic situations where an individual has no rational incentive to prevent the climate crisis and no moral requirement to be held responsible for contributing to it. Traditionally both dilemmas have been thought to be solvable only through a vertical structure of decision-making. Where contemporary research in political economy has undergone a “governance revolution”, showing how horizontal networks of public, private, and civil society actors can play an important role in the management of the climate crisis, little research has been carried out in the ethical field on how to secure accountability and responsibility within such a cooperative structure of social agency. Therefore, this paper contributes by individuating some conditions for designing responsible and accountable governance processes in the management of climate change. It concludes by claiming that climate change is addressable only insofar as we transition from a morality based on individual responsibility to a new conception of morality based on our co-responsibility for preventing the climate crisis.

AbstractThe research employed an asset-based approach to understanding the capacities, assets and skills which tenants, landlords and housing managers bring to climate change adaptation. The project also took a pro-poor approach focusing on the adaptive capacity of low-income renters in the public and private sectors, addressing the equity dimensions of vulnerability and adaptation. In addition to analysing a range of secondary sources such as media articles, ‘green’ guides and policy documents, the research analysed primary data from interviews and focus groups, focusing on:The assets of the rental sector in adaptationBarriers which limit the capacity of individuals and organisations to exercise these assetsThe relationships between the stakeholders – tenants, landlords and property managers – which underlie both assets and barriers to adaptation.We found that the tenants we interviewed were motivated by concern about the impact of human activity on the environment, and exercised this concern through everyday sustainable household practices, as well as through engagement with community or political organisations. They believed however that their capacity to act in the home was inhibited by a lack of care from some landlords and property managers about the sustainability of rental housing.Public housing managers who were interviewed positioned the public housing sector as policy leaders in sustainability and adaptation, but as constrained by a lack of resources (human and financial) and the busy reactive nature of their work.  Busyness and lack of resources was also seen as a constraint on private property managers’ capacity to advocate or arrange for sustainability modifications to the properties they managed. Property managers emerged as crucial ‘knowledge brokers’ mediating between landlords and tenants, but expressed a need for more information and training. Both tenants and property managers acknowledged that the current shortage of rental housing in many areas was one of the most important constraints on tenants’ ability to influence the market through preference for more adaptive and sustainable housing. The interviews and focus groups with tenants and property managers mapped out a strong asset base in the rental sector including: tenants’ strong visions for the future; property managers’ understandings of the tenant/landlord/property manager relationships, legislation, costing and procurement processes; organisational and community networks; and existing adaptive capacity already evident in the everyday practices.The research report makes recommendations in the following areas:increased support for an enhanced role for property managers as advocates and knowledge brokers for sustainability and adaptationincentives and education for landlords to see investment properties as ‘ethical investments’ to enable tenants to adapt to climate changeincreased overall supply of rental housing, particularly affordable rental housingincreased assets for tenants to enable investments of time and money in a secure ‘home’changes to tenancy conditions and better communication with landlordsgovernment action on regulatory change to support the above changes, including action on housing supply and a review of rental building sustainability standards.Please cite this report as:Instone, L, Mee, K, Palmer, J, Williams, M, Vaughan, N 2013 Climate change adaptation and the rental sector, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 200.AbstractThe research employed an asset-based approach to understanding the capacities, assets and skills which tenants, landlords and housing managers bring to climate change adaptation. The project also took a pro-poor approach focusing on the adaptive capacity of low-income renters in the public and private sectors, addressing the equity dimensions of vulnerability and adaptation. In addition to analysing a range of secondary sources such as media articles, ‘green’ guides and policy documents, the research analysed primary data from interviews and focus groups, focusing on:The assets of the rental sector in adaptationBarriers which limit the capacity of individuals and organisations to exercise these assetsThe relationships between the stakeholders – tenants, landlords and property managers – which underlie both assets and barriers to adaptation.We found that the tenants we interviewed were motivated by concern about the impact of human activity on the environment, and exercised this concern through everyday sustainable household practices, as well as through engagement with community or political organisations. They believed however that their capacity to act in the home was inhibited by a lack of care from some landlords and property managers about the sustainability of rental housing.Public housing managers who were interviewed positioned the public housing sector as policy leaders in sustainability and adaptation, but as constrained by a lack of resources (human and financial) and the busy reactive nature of their work.  Busyness and lack of resources was also seen as a constraint on private property managers’ capacity to advocate or arrange for sustainability modifications to the properties they managed. Property managers emerged as crucial ‘knowledge brokers’ mediating between landlords and tenants, but expressed a need for more information and training. Both tenants and property managers acknowledged that the current shortage of rental housing in many areas was one of the most important constraints on tenants’ ability to influence the market through preference for more adaptive and sustainable housing. The interviews and focus groups with tenants and property managers mapped out a strong asset base in the rental sector including: tenants’ strong visions for the future; property managers’ understandings of the tenant/landlord/property manager relationships, legislation, costing and procurement processes; organisational and community networks; and existing adaptive capacity already evident in the everyday practices.The research report makes recommendations in the following areas:increased support for an enhanced role for property managers as advocates and knowledge brokers for sustainability and adaptationincentives and education for landlords to see investment properties as ‘ethical investments’ to enable tenants to adapt to climate changeincreased overall supply of rental housing, particularly affordable rental housingincreased assets for tenants to enable investments of time and money in a secure ‘home’changes to tenancy conditions and better communication with landlordsgovernment action on regulatory change to support the above changes, including action on housing supply and a review of rental building sustainability standards.By: Lesley Instone, Kathleen Mee, Jane Palmer, Miriam Williams and Nicola Vaughan

ABSTRACT Public participation in local governance is crucial for effective climate action and for ensuring that policies are designed in a way that respects the rights of communities. Policy developments and choices are shaped by the groups that participate, by the ideas that they hold, and by the institutions that enable and constrain their participation. This paper seeks to understand local climate change governance in Ireland by identifying the environmental interests and the ideas of the groups that participate, and by examining how they engage with institutionalised local policymaking processes and with the organisations that represent the officially recognised views of the country’s national environmental movement. An analysis of survey data collected from the groups that are members of one of Ireland’s Public Participation Networks shows that a majority of groups are small, rural, voluntary, interested in a wide variety of environmental issues and have a pro-ecological worldview. Most groups follow a pro-institutional advocacy strategy at the local level, while only a minority interact with the national environmental movement, mostly limiting their engagement to the acquisition of information. This paper contributes to the literature that examines how interests, ideas, and institutions shape public participation in local climate politics.

This paper contains an assessment and standardized comparative analysis of the current water management regimes in four case-studies in three European river basins: the Hungarian part of the Upper Tisza, the Ukrainian part of the Upper Tisza (also called Zacarpathian Tisza), Alentejo Region (including the Alqueva Reservoir) in the Lower Guadiana in Portugal, and Rivierenland in the Netherlands. The analysis comprises several regime elements considered to be important in adaptive and integrated water management: agency, awareness raising and education, type of governance and cooperation structures, information management and—exchange, policy development and—implementation, risk management, and finances and cost recovery. This comparative analysis has an explorative character intended to identify general patterns in adaptive and integrated water management and to determine its role in coping with the impacts of climate change on floods and droughts. The results show that there is a strong interdependence of the elements within a water management regime, and as such this interdependence is a stabilizing factor in current management regimes. For example, this research provides evidence that a lack of joint/participative knowledge is an important obstacle for cooperation, or vice versa. We argue that there is a two-way relationship between information management and collaboration. Moreover, this research suggests that bottom-up governance is not a straightforward solution to water management problems in large-scale, complex, multiple-use systems, such as river basins. Instead, all the regimes being analyzed are in a process of finding a balance between bottom-up and top–down governance. Finally, this research shows that in a basin where one type of extreme is dominant—like droughts in the Alentejo (Portugal) and floods in Rivierenland (Netherlands)—the potential impacts of other extremes are somehow ignored or not perceived with the urgency they might deserv

This research examines the compounding risks of global environmental change, including climate change, environmental law, biodiversity loss, and pollution, which threaten the stability of economic systems worldwide. While digital technology and global governance regulation are increasingly being proposed as solutions, their synergistic potential in advancing economic sustainability has been less explored. How can these technologies mitigate environmental risks while promoting sustainable and equitable development, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals? We analyze policy global environmental data from the World Bank and the United Nations, as well as literature reviews on digital interventions, artificial intelligence, and smart databases. Global environmental change presents economic stability and rule of law threats, and innovative governance responses are needed. This study evaluates the potential for digital technology to be leveraged to enhance climate resilience and regulatory systems and address key implementation, equity, and policy coherence deficits. Policy recommendations for aligning economic development trajectories with planetary boundaries emphasize that proactive digital governance integration is indispensable for decoupling growth from environmental degradation. However, fragmented governance and unequal access to technologies undermine scalability. Successful experiences demonstrate that integrated policies, combining incentives, data transparency, and multilateral coordination, deliver maximum economic and environmental co-benefits, matching digital innovation with good governance. We provide policymakers with an action plan to leverage technology as a multiplier of sustainability, prioritizing inclusive governance structures to address implementation gaps and inform legislation.

It is increasingly questionable whether the WTO regime is the most appropriate form of governance for addressing global problems related to agriculture. In particular, climate change, sustainability, hunger/poverty in developing countries, and expected imbalance in food demand-supply by 2050 are emerging as grave challenges to humanity and the WTO is still struggling to resolve issues (related to the multifunctional roles of agriculture) of the 20th century while completely lacking the capacity to tackle such new global issues of the 21st century. Given this outmoded institution, the primary objective of this article is to propose that a new system of governance is needed so as to exclusively and effectively deal with problems arising from the interactions among climate change, agricultural sustainability, food security, and trade.Global public goods, climate change, sustainable agriculture, food security, WTO, agricultural trade, International Relations/Trade,

The imperative of ‘making cities resilient and sustainable’ necessitates cities to develop adaptation concepts and practices in response to the uncertainty, rapid change, and complexity of urban areas. A new concept of governance that can answer the challenges of contemporary urban development and ensure long-term sustainable development is required. This study aimed to identify the general framework of adaptive urban governance by review, elaboration, and analysis of documents, in this case, scientific articles that discuss urban governance specifically related to climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR). The results of this study include an overview of governance approaches appearing in the literature on CCA and DRR, which was parsed down to the adaptive and anticipatory approaches. Adaptive governance requires the principle of flexibility applied in the management cycle in policy formulation, while anticipatory governance requires the principle of proactivity with the application of future foresight in policy formulation. The dimension of governance consists of process/mechanism (risk management) and capacity (technical, institutional, financial, and human capacity). Some challenges in building good governance based on an adaptive approach are encouraging community involvement, increasing local government capacities, and building integration between actors, networks, and collaborations.   Abstrak. Dalam menjadikan suatu kota tangguh dan berkelanjutan,  kota diharuskan untuk mengembangkan konsep dan praktik adaptasi dalam menanggapi ketidakpastian, perubahan yang cepat, dan kompleksitas kawasan perkotaan. Diperlukan konsep tata kelola baru yang dapat menjawab tantangan pembangunan perkotaan kontemporer dan memastikan pembangunan berkelanjutan jangka panjang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengidentifikasi kerangka umum tata kelola kota adaptif dengan metode review, elaborasi, dan analisis dokumen, dalam hal ini artikel ilmiah yang membahas tentang tata kelola kota secara khusus terkait dengan adaptasi perubahan iklim (CCA) dan pengurangan risiko bencana (PRB). Hasil penelitian ini meliputi gambaran pendekatan tata kelola yang muncul dalam literatur CCA dan PRB, yang diuraikan menjadi pendekatan adaptif dan antisipatif. Tata kelola adaptif membutuhkan prinsip fleksibilitas yang diterapkan dalam siklus pengelolaan dalam perumusan kebijakan, sedangkan tata kelola antisipatif membutuhkan prinsip proaktif dengan penerapan pandangan jauh ke depan dalam perumusan kebijakan. Dimensi tata kelola terdiri dari proses / mekanisme (manajemen risiko) dan kapasitas (teknis, kelembagaan, keuangan, dan kapasitas manusia). Beberapa tantangan dalam membangun tata kelola pemerintahan yang baik berdasarkan pendekatan adaptif adalah mendorong keterlibatan masyarakat, meningkatkan kapasitas pemerintah daerah, dan membangun integrasi antar aktor, jaringan, dan kolaborasi.   Kata kunci: pendekatan tata kelola; tata kelola kota; pembangunan berkelanjutan; ketahanan; kerangka konseptual.

Abstract Water markets were first introduced in Australia in the 1980s, and water entitlement and allocation trade have been increasingly adopted by both private individuals and government.Irrigators turned to water markets (particularly for allocation water) to manage water scarcity and Governments to acquire water for the environment (particularly water entitlements. It is expected that further adoption of water markets will be essential for coping with future climate change impacts. This report reviews the available literature related to the relationship between southern Murray-Darling Basin (sMDB) water markets and anticipated climate change effects; the economic, social and environmental impacts of water reallocation through markets; and future development requirements to enhance positive outcomes in these areas. The use of water markets by irrigators can involve both transformational (selling all water entitlements and relocating or switching to dryland) and incremental (e.g. buying water allocations/entitlements, using carry-over, changing water management techniques) adaptation to climate change. Barriers to both adaptations include: current and future climate uncertainty; poor (or non-existent) market signals; financial constraints; information barriers; mental processing limits; inherent attitudes toward or beliefs about climate change; institutional barriers and disincentives to adapt. A better understanding of trade behaviour, especially strategic trade issues that can lead to market failures, will improve the economic advantages of water trade. There remains community concerns about the impacts of transfers away from regional areas such as reduced community spending and reinvestment; population losses; loss of jobs; declining taxation base, loss of local services and businesses, regional production changes; and legacy issues for remaining farmers. However, it is hard to disentangle these impacts from those caused by ongoing structural change in agriculture. Rural communities that are most vulnerable to water scarcity under climate change and water trade adjustment include smaller irrigation-dependent towns. Communities less dependent on irrigation are better able to adapt. Further, where environmental managers use water markets to deal with water variability and to ensure ecological benefits, irrigators are concerned about its impact on their traditional use of markets to manage scarcity. Climate change and water scarcity management are intertwined, suggesting that policy, institutional and governance arrangements to deal with such issues should be similarly structured. Water users will adapt, either out of necessity or opportunity. The cost of that adaptation at individual, regional and national levels—particularly to future water supply variability—can be mitigated by the consideration of the existing advantages from future opportunities for water marketing in Australia

Increasing links are being made between ocean sustainability and climate change, as illustrated by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change special report on the ocean and cryosphere, and the billing of the 2019 UN climate change conference as the “Blue COP.” This review of these linkages is framed by the “bandwagoning” literature in global environmental politics to examine how ocean action has been constructed as being relevant for both climate mitigation and adaptation. This includes growing interest in “blue carbon” and the emerging narrative of the ocean as a “solution” to climate change, and drawing attention to climate impacts on ocean ecosystems and marine biodiversity. It highlights the roles played in constructing this link by entrepreneurial states and the NGO community in building an ocean‐climate bandwagon with the existing processes of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. As broader political attention is paid to ocean health, this review also highlights how these climate bandwagoning efforts overlap or clash with other ocean‐related international environmental processes.

AbstractAustralian governments face the twin challenges of dealing with extreme weather-related disasters (such as floods and bushfires) and adapting to the impacts of climate change. These challenges are connected, so any response would benefit from a more integrated approach across and between the different levels of government.This report summarises the findings of an NCCARF-funded project that addresses this problem.The project undertook a three-way comparative case study of the 2009 Victorian bushfires, the 2011 Perth Hills bushfires, and the 2011 Brisbane floods. It collected data from the official inquiry reports into each of these events, and conducted new interviews and workshops with key stakeholders. The findings of this project included recommendations that range from the conceptual to the practical. First, it was argued that a reconceptualization of terms such as ‘community’ and ‘resilience’ was necessary to allow for more tailored responses to varying circumstances. Second, it was suggested that the high level of uncertainty inherent in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation requires a more iterative approach to policymaking and planning. Third, some specific institutional reforms were proposed that included: 1) a new funding mechanism that would encourage collaboration between and across different levels of government, as well as promoting partnerships with business and the community; 2) improving community engagement through new resilience grants run by local councils; 3) embedding climate change researchers within disaster risk management agencies to promote institutional learning; and, 4) creating an inter-agency network that encourages collaboration between organisations.Please cite this report as: Howes, M, Grant-Smith, D, Reis, K, Bosomworth, K, Tangney, P, Heazle, M, McEvoy, D, Burton, P 2013 Rethinking disaster risk management and climate change adaptation, National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility, Gold Coast, pp. 63.Australian governments face the twin challenges of dealing with extreme weather-related disasters (such as floods and bushfires) and adapting to the impacts of climate change. These challenges are connected, so any response would benefit from a more integrated approach across and between the different levels of government.This report summarises the findings of an NCCARF-funded project that addresses this problem.The project undertook a three-way comparative case study of the 2009 Victorian bushfires, the 2011 Perth Hills bushfires, and the 2011 Brisbane floods. It collected data from the official inquiry reports into each of these events, and conducted new interviews and workshops with key stakeholders. The findings of this project included recommendations that range from the conceptual to the practical. First, it was argued that a reconceptualization of terms such as ‘community’ and ‘resilience’ was necessary to allow for more tailored responses to varying circumstances. Second, it was suggested that the high level of uncertainty inherent in disaster risk management and climate change adaptation requires a more iterative approach to policymaking and planning. Third, some specific institutional reforms were proposed that included: 1) a new funding mechanism that would encourage collaboration between and across different levels of government, as well as promoting partnerships with business and the community; 2) improving community engagement through new resilience grants run by local councils; 3) embedding climate change researchers within disaster risk management agencies to promote institutional learning; and, 4) creating an inter-agency network that encourages collaboration between organisations.&nbsp