Integrating Social Learning, Adaptive Capacity and Climate Adaptation for Regional Scale Analysis: A Conceptual...

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Social Science
• Resource Management

Background:

• Climate change impacts northern Canada's renewable resources, necessitating adaptive capacity.
• Social learning is vital for adaptation, but its links to adaptive capacity and climate change adaptation are not fully understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and present a framework clarifying the interactions among social learning, adaptive capacity, and climate change adaptation at a regional scale.
• To integrate social learning motivations, context, process factors, outcomes, and determinants of adaptive capacity within the framework.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual and empirical studies were built upon to develop a multi-layered framework.
• The framework was assessed post hoc using two climate change disturbances in northern boreal resource systems.

Main Results:

• The developed framework effectively clarifies the complex interactions between social learning, adaptive capacity, and climate change adaptation.
• The framework's applicability was demonstrated for regional-scale analysis in northern boreal resource systems.

Conclusions:

• The framework provides a valuable tool for understanding and enhancing adaptive capacity in the face of climate change in northern regions.
• This research highlights the critical role of social learning in building resilience within renewable resource sectors.