Climate change adaptation in Norway: learning–knowledge processes and the demand for transformative adaptation

ABSTRACT

During the last decade, it has become evident that planet earth will be warming. Hence, there is an increasing focus on how to adapt to a changing climate. The adaptation literature underlines the importance played by local government in planning and implementing adaptation policies. This article is addressing learning–knowledge–action processes within and between local (municipal) and central (national and regional) government levels, thereby filling a gap in the literature. The analysis is using empirical data from Norway; a country commonly considered as having a well-developed multi-level governance system, with a strong bottom-up component, thereby apparently meeting a core condition for developing and implementing transformational changes. The study finds that single and double-loop learning are dominating, fostering incremental changes, but combined incremental changes related to technically handling surface water are approaching transitional change. As a first step, the study suggests it is necessary to formulate policies that explicitly combe incremental changes in order to achieve transitional and transformational change. Moreover, policies for fostering oppositional knowledge networks as part of vertical–horizontal governance may be necessary for pushing the system in the direction of transition and transformation.

KEYWORDS:

• Climate change
• transformative adaptation
• learning
• knowledge
• public sector
• Norway

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank two students; Karoline Ekeberg and Magdalena Thorbjörnsen, who assisted in interviewing and transcribing interviews, and we thank the reviewers for their timely work.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. In Norway, high profile environmental non-governmental organisations like Bellona and Zero, as well as one of the leading climate change research institutes (Cicero) fall in his category.

2. We asked all interviewees whether they agreed for recording. One of the interviewee at the municipal level refused recording. For this one, we took notes during the interview. Recorded interviews were transcribed.

3. Among those, we find World Wildlife Fund, Norwegian Society for the Protection of Nature, Bellona and Zero. Although mostly focussing on reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, such organisations may also play a role in relation to adaptation.

4. The project also included collaborated with external research institutes and consultancy companies, as well as occasional participating by other public agencies like the Norwegian Directorate of Civil Protection and Directorate of Building Quality.

5. In the Norwegian planning system, central government agencies, generally at the regional level, are entitled to and have a duty to make objection to plans that are not meeting regulatory requirements. Such cases may be brought to national level (ministries) for final decision.

6. TEK 10 is a regulation to make sure buildings are meeting, e.g. technical requirements regarding health, environment, safety and energy.

7. National and organised by KS – the Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities.

Additional information

Funding

The empirical basis for the article is a project funded by the Norwegian Environment Agency [Miljödirektoratet], project number M-711/2017.