Only by understanding what good adaptation looks like, can we think of how to evaluate it. Read on to learn how we investigated the views of 100 local adaptation professionals to create a broader understanding of adaptation success.
As many of you know, last year IMAGINE Adaptation surveyed literature and experts and created 31 bespoke illustrations of concepts related to adaptation. We worked with Josune Urrutia, an illustrator based in Bilbao who used our carefully designed briefs of 31 concepts to develop the 31 images. These images included a whole range of concepts relating to adaptation including solutions (ecosystems restoration, hard infrastructures, technology) as well as procedural concepts (justice, institutionalisation, liveability), all in a very clear uniform style and inclusive of different cultures and geographical locations. The art and science collaboration represented a huge effort to reflect different people and cities of the world with different views on adaptation.
We would like to thank the local adaptation practitioners and experts from all over the world who participated in the study. In total 100 urban adaptation experts (local governments, non-governmental organisations, educational organisations, civic associations, and businesses) across the globe (from Mexico to Afghanistan, Greece to Sierra Leone) participated in the study. The study covered cities and localities across world regions with different population sizes, development levels, vulnerabilities, climate risks and adaptation experiences. Participation involved looking at these images and deciding which most (and least) represent participants’ views of adaptation in their city (below you can see an example of some of the images included in the study).
In our work, we experienced how the use of new mechanisms for adaptation management, such as art-based approaches, can capture the complexity of experiences, identify diverse understandings, create common ones and open the door for different perspectives.
We are now in the process of analysing the survey results and we are excited to share the findings as soon as they become available. In the meantime, have a read of the above article by Marlene Ritter to find out more about the superpowers of art and storytelling for climate change adaptation.
© All rights reserved. Illustrations are the property of BC3 Basque Centre for Climate Change – IMAGINE adaptation (ERC, IMAGINE adaptation, 101039429). Author Josune Urrutia.
Urban adaptation: disrupting imaginaries and practices
Vanesa Castan-Broto, Marta Olazabal and Gina Ziervogel have guest edited a quite special special issue in the fantastic journal Buildings and Cities. The special issue aims to enlarge the range of adaptation narratives grounded in experiences from cities worldwide.
read more
Reflecting on our recent workshop: Disentangling Successful Adaptation Using Theory of Change
Last week, the IMAGINE Adaptation hosted an international workshop on “Disentangling successful adaptation using theory of change” in Bergen, Norway. Our aim was to create a collaborative space for rethinking and identifying the changes needed for effective climate adaptation.
read more
IMAGINE Adaptation at The Nature of the Cities Festival
Our session "Imagining Adaptation to Climate Change through Art" explored how the intersection of science and the arts can catalyse alternative imaginaries of climate adaptation in urban environments.
read more
First Expert Board Meeting
Last week, on April 17, IMAGINE Adaptation held the first meeting with our board of experts after the kick off.
read more
Become an IMAGINE Adaptation Case Study
Is your city interested in learning more about and developing your approach to monitoring, evaluation, reporting, and learning of urban adaptation? If so, apply to collaborate with us and become an IMAGINE Adaptation Case Study!
read more
Intersectional approaches for intersecting crises
In this article featured in The Conversation Spain, Ana explains how climate vulnerability is defined by the intersection of different social positions, such as gender, ethnicity, ability, and social class.
read more
Imagining Adaptation through Art
Only by understanding what good adaptation looks like, can we think of how to evaluate it. Read on to learn how we investigated the views of 100 local adaptation professionals to create a broader understanding of adaptation success.
read more
How will we know when we are adapting?
The IMAGINE Adaptation team is in the process of synthesising key approaches to monitoring, evaluating, reporting and learning (MERL) for adaptation projects, aiming to reduce uncertainty for local actors involved in adaptation management. Keep reading to find out how you can get involved.
read more
950 years of adaptation expertise
Our team interviewed 50 of the most eminent climate adaptation experts to understand how their worldviews and experiences help understand the current state of the field, its trajectory, and the pathways forward. Here we share a preview of the process and conversations.
read more
Adaptation: Preparation and Review – An Example from Melbourne
Examples from Melbourne on what a city can do by refreshing its Climate Change Adaptation Strategy.
read more