Rethinking the design of resilience and adaptation indicators supporting coastal communities

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Public Policy
• Social Science

Background:

• Resilience and adaptation are increasingly integrated into public policy.
• There is a need to measure the efficiency, effectiveness, and equity of these processes.
• Existing research often focuses on specific indicators rather than the normative aspects of their design.

Purpose of the Study:

• To outline considerations for designing novel resilience and adaptation indicators (RAIs).
• To address the normative aspects of indicator design, including accuracy, reproducibility, and stakeholder translation.
• To provide a framework applicable to coastal communities facing adaptation challenges.

Main Methods:

• This perspective article reviews existing literature and proposes a framework.
• It explores normative considerations for RAI design through hypothetical examples.
• The focus is on practical challenges in the lifecycle of RAIs.

Main Results:

• Identifies key considerations for developing robust RAIs.
• Highlights the importance of normative aspects in indicator design.
• Offers a framework for addressing practical challenges in RAI implementation.

Conclusions:

• Effective RAIs require careful attention to normative design principles.
• The proposed considerations can guide the development and application of RAIs in policy.
• This work supports the creation of more accurate, reproducible, and translatable adaptation metrics.