Transformational adaptation when incremental adaptations to climate change are insufficient.

Area of Science:

• Climate change adaptation
• Human-environment systems
• Vulnerability and risk assessment

Background:

• Human-environment systems naturally adapt to climate variability.
• Adaptation to climate change has primarily focused on incremental adjustments.
• Significant vulnerabilities may necessitate transformational adaptation strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To define and categorize transformational adaptations.
• To identify conditions favoring transformational adaptation.
• To explore challenges and enablers for implementing transformational adaptation.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of case studies from Africa, Europe, and North America.
• Identification of conditions triggering transformational adaptation.
• Examination of factors influencing implementation and sustainability.

Main Results:

• Transformational adaptations include larger scale, novel, or location-shifting approaches.
• Large vulnerability and severe climate change necessitate transformational adaptation.
• Implementation faces challenges like uncertainty, cost, and institutional inertia.

Conclusions:

• Transformational adaptation is essential for certain systems facing severe climate change.
• Initiating transformational adaptation requires focusing events, multiple stresses, and local leadership.
• Sustaining transformational adaptation depends on social support and available resources.