Design and evaluation of a local analytic-deliberative process for climate adaptation planning

Abstract

In the midst of rapidly proliferating engagement efforts around climate adaptation, attention to the design and evaluation of decision support processes and products is warranted. We report on the development and evaluation of a process framework called the Vulnerability, Consequences, and Adaptation Planning Scenarios (VCAPS) process. VCAPS is a systematic approach to integrate local knowledge with scientific understanding by providing opportunities for facilitated, deliberative learning-based activities with local decision makers about climate change vulnerability and adaptation. We introduce the conceptual basis of the process in analytic-deliberation, hazard management, and vulnerability. Our evaluations from eight coastal communities where the approach was applied point to four assets of VCAPS: it promotes synthesis of local and scientific knowledge; it stimulates systems thinking and learning; it facilitates governance by producing action plans with transparent justifications; and it accommodates participant time constraints and preferences.

Keywords:

• climate change
• adaptation
• vulnerability
• deliberative learning
• decision support
• analytic-deliberation

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank the people of Sullivan's Island, SC; McClellanville, SC; Plymouth, NC; Plymouth, MA, Boston MA, New Bedford, MA; Dauphin Island, AL; and Orange Beach, AL who graciously gave their time to explore using this process. We would also like to thank Karly Miller for her role in the early stages of the development and implementation of VCAPS. We thank two anonymous reviewers for their helpful comments. Any errors are those of the authors.

Notes

1. Interested readers can find examples of reports with the narratives at VCAPS (2014b). www.vcapsforplanning.org

2. In the spirit of shared learning, we ask that if you do experiment with the VCAPS approach that you share your insight by contacting us at: http://www.vcapsforplanning.org/about.html.

Additional information

Funding

We developed the VCAPS process with funding from The National Oceanographic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the cooperation of eight communities on the Atlantic coast. This project was made possible by funding from NOAA's Sectoral Area Research Program (SARP) [NA09OAR4310151] and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Sea Grant Program [5710002977]