Climate Change Adaptation Across Different Case Studies and the Role of Leadership
Author
Zhang, Ting-Ting
Term
4. semester
Publication year
2018
Submitted on
2018-06-08
Abstract
Denne afhandling undersøger, hvordan klimatilpasning tager form i tre små kystbyer – Ballina (Australien), Knysna (Sydafrika) og Lemvig (Danmark) – og hvilken rolle lederskab spiller i at omsætte politik til lokal handling. Med en eksplorativ tilgang kombineres dokumentanalyse, spørgeskemaer og interviews med kommunale medarbejdere og andre aktører for at kortlægge opfattede klimarisici, igangværende og planlagte tiltag, barrierer for tilpasning samt hvem der driver implementeringen. Studiet er forankret i Urban Climate Change Research Network og refererer til, men anvender ikke fuldt ud, en eksisterende ramme for lederskab. De foreløbige resultater peger på, at mangel på finansiering er den største barriere, efterfulgt af uoverensstemmelser i visioner mellem forvaltningsniveauer; samtidig varierer fremdriften i tilpasningsarbejdet på tværs af cases uafhængigt af socioøkonomisk kontekst. Fundene indikerer behov for at supplere top-down styring med mere holistiske, tværfaglige bottom-up tilgange, der kan fremme lederskab uden for formelle positioner. Som eksempel ledes tiltag i Ballina af den lokale myndighed med strategier for klima, kyst og oversvømmelser, mens borgerapati nævnes som en udfordring. Afhandlingen udvider vidensgrundlaget om klimatilpasning i små kystbyer og fremhæver betydningen af lederskab for at styrke lokal modstandsdygtighed.
This thesis examines how climate change adaptation is taking shape in three small coastal cities—Ballina (Australia), Knysna (South Africa) and Lemvig (Denmark)—and the role leadership plays in turning policy into local action. Using an exploratory design, it combines document analysis, questionnaires and interviews with municipal staff and other stakeholders to map perceived climate risks, current and planned responses, barriers to adaptation, and who leads implementation, followed by a cross-case comparison. The study is embedded in the Urban Climate Change Research Network and notes, but does not fully apply, an existing leadership framework. Early findings indicate that limited funding is the most consistent barrier, followed by misaligned visions across levels of government; progress varies among the cities irrespective of socio-economic context. The evidence points to complementing top-down policies with more holistic, interdisciplinary, bottom-up approaches that can cultivate leadership beyond formal positions. For example, in Ballina local government leads actions guided by climate, coastal and floodplain plans, while community apathy is cited as a challenge. The work expands the evidence base on climate adaptation in small coastal cities and underscores the importance of leadership for strengthening local resilience.
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