Transformational Adaptation

Describe the UK flood risk in a couple of stats:

• 2.4m properties are at risk of flooding from rivers and seas. 

• Just over 350,000 are at high risk of flooding 

How many homes are at risk from erosion?

3,500 homes are at risk from coastal erosion by 2055

Give the 4 Shoreline Management Plan strategies:

• Hold the line 

• Advance the line 

• Managed Realignment 

• No active intervention 

Define coping:

Dealing with the immediate effects of change, but maintaining the general mode of operations. 

Define incremental adaptation:

Adjustments that still maintain the status quo – but more pre-emptive e.g. installing AC.

Define transformational adaptation:

Fundamental changes, implemented when current practice is no longer possible. Includes new, large-scale adaptations and relocations. It can be novel, and address the root causes of vulnerability.  

How would transformational adaptation affect English coastline communities?

Transformational adaptation (to erosion, flooding, and climate change) would directly impact up to 160,000 people, and up to 1900km of coastline.  

Define everyday adaptation:

The shifted ways a person works, eats, lives, and thinks in response to climate realities.  

Describe small island developing states (SIDs) and the issues they face:

• Currently 9 states + 18 associated members of the UN  

• Located across the Caribbean, Pacific, Indian Ocean, and South China Sea 

• They may have a narrow economic sector e.g. reliant on a few sectors esp. tourism or agriculture 

Give some factors influencing SIDS’ vulnerability to climate change:

• Narrow resource bases 

• Dominance of environmental-based sectors 

• Limited industrial activity 

• Physical remoteness 

• Limited economies of scale 

Give some key facts about the Cheonggyecheon river project:

• Cost: US$280m 

• Dates: 2000-2005 

• Length: 5.8km 

How did the river project work with stakeholders?

 

During the planning process, over 4,200 meetings were held to discuss the issue with all stakeholders. 

Give some key successes of the river project:

• Contributed to a 15% increase in bus ridership 

• Attracts 64,000 visitors, making US$1.9m a year 

• Increased business numbers by 3.5% 

• Increased biodiversity by 640% 

• Reduced temperatures by up to 5.9^oC 

• 10 automobile bridges added to improve connectivity north-south 

Describe the Walande Community and how it had to adapt to climate change:

• A fishing community off the Solomon Islands 

• They were flooded every time the tide was high 

• Since 2008 they had to relocate to the mainland under their own finances 

• They got very little support from the government and they didn't get enough land to support them 

• The mainland has a very patriarchal structure (e.g. women aren't allowed to rent), so women's rights (which they had before) are at risk 

Give some forms of justice that must be present when undergoing transformational adaptation:

• Recognitional – social structures + policies that have led to today's situation 

• Procedural – making sure all stakeholders are included fairly 

• Distributional – fair distribution of benefits from the process