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The International Journal of Justice and Sustainability
Volume 21, 2016 - Issue 6
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Articles

Place influences in framing and understanding climate change adaptation challenges

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Pages 730-751 | Received 18 Aug 2014, Accepted 29 Jan 2015, Published online: 27 Feb 2015
 

Abstract

The climate change literature emphasises the importance of geographical understanding for guiding adaptation, in which “place” perspectives are particularly significant. After “scale”, the term “place” within the climate change adaptation literature is most often implicitly used in reference to a delineated and localised region, such as place-based risk assessment or place-based adaptation planning. Here, we use a case study of the Australian island-state of Tasmania to demonstrate the importance and particularity of place in the formation of climate change adaptation issues, problem definition and framing, and the dynamics of knowledge and praxis development across a range of research and industry sectors. We describe the significance of the place Tasmania with regard to its geographical location; its portrayal as an island place; and its cultural meaning and relations. Through a synthesis of climate change adaptation research, policy literature and engagement with researchers and stakeholders, we identify three emergent thematic place characterisations of Tasmania. We find that these characterisations have contributed directly or indirectly to the: initiation and extent of research and practical activities; the framing of adaptation issues and perspectives on potential adaptation responses in different sectors including the marine biodiversity and resources sector, small business and human health sectors. Exposing these influences is essential for focusing future adaptation activities, including research, planning, investment and practice, in Tasmania and other locations where place is a central issue.

Acknowledgements

This article is dedicated to the memory of our colleague, Associate Professor Erica Bell, whose collegiality and commitment to collaborative research reflected these positive aspects of the island place of Tasmania. We appreciate the support of John Harkin (at the time at the Tasmanian Climate Change Office) and Holger Meinke (University of Tasmania, Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture) in undertaking this project, and thank all study participants for their time and insights. This research was carried out under University of Tasmania human ethics permit H001267. We thank the anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions, which improved the quality of this paper.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Notes

1. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change defines adaptation as “adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities” (Klein et al. Citation2007, p. 750). Nelson et al. (Citation2007) identify adaptation as the “process” of developing local responses to climate change and involves deliberate change in anticipation of, or in reaction to, external stimuli and stress.

Additional information

Funding

This research was supported by funding from the National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility.

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