Third-generation adaptive capacity assessment for climate-resilient development

ABSTRACT

Human development seeks to enlarge freedoms by building capacity and is integral to achieving sustainable development, particularly in the era of the Anthropocene. However, the efficiency and effectiveness of capacity building is limited. First-generation adaptive capacity emphasizes a deficit model. Second-generation adaptive capacity focuses on mobilization by individuals. Neither adequately address the issue of scale, nor recognize how stocks of capacity are enhanced or diminished through interactions between individuals and groups. Addressing these shortcomings and realizing climate-resilient development, is contingent upon a next (third) generation of adaptive capacity that incorporates the transfer of capacity.

KEYWORDS:

• Climate change
• adaptation
• resilience
• sustainability
• transformation
• social-ecological systems
• adaptive capacity

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Australian Research Council [grant number FT180100652].

Notes on contributors

Carmen E. Elrick-Barr

Carmen E. Elrick-Barr is a Research Fellow at the University of the Sunshine Coast. A human geographer with over 17 years' experience in the academic and private sectors her translational research on human-environment interactions seeks transformative change towards sustainability. Her research focuses on vulnerability, capacity and governance. She is Vice-Chair of the Australian Coastal Society and a Future Earth Coasts Fellow.

Ryan Plummer

Ryan Plummer is Professor and Director of the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre (ESRC) at Brock University. He is also presently an Adjunct Professor in the Sustainability Research Centre at the University of the Sunshine Coast (Australia) and Adjunct Faculty in the Department of Environment and Resource Studies at the University of Waterloo (Canada). His multi-faceted program of research broadly concerns resilience, governance of social-ecological systems and environmental stewardship.

Timothy F. Smith

Timothy F. Smith is a Professor and Australian Research Council (ARC) Future Fellow based at the University of the Sunshine Coast (USC), where he is focused on coastal vulnerability and governance. He is also an Adjunct Professor with the Environmental Sustainability Research Centre at Brock University (Canada) and a Senior Research Associate with SWEDESD, Department of Women's and Children's Health, at Uppsala University (Sweden). He is co-Chair of Future Earth Coasts and Future Earth Australia. He was formerly the Executive Dean for the Faculty of Arts, Business and Law, and the Inaugural Director of the Sustainability Research Centre at USC.