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Beyond participation : when citizen engagement leads to undesirable outcomes for nature-based solutions and climate change adaptation

Wamsler, C. LU orcid ; Alkan-Olsson, J. LU ; Björn, H. LU ; Falck, H. ; Hanson, H. LU ; Oskarsson, T. ; Simonsson, E. and Zelmerlow, F. (2020) In Climatic Change 158(2). p.235-254
Abstract

Scholars and practitioners are increasingly promoting so-called nature-based approaches for urban climate change adaptation. There is widespread consensus that they both support and require transdisciplinary approaches, notably by involving citizens in the change process and finding innovative ways to unite different actors’ efforts and capacities. However, there is little empirical evidence regarding the actual value of citizen involvement to sustainability in this field. Against this background, this paper examines whether (or not) current forms and conditions of citizen involvement help to create a platform to support nature-based solutions and ensure a transformative adaptation process. The results show that under current... (More)

Scholars and practitioners are increasingly promoting so-called nature-based approaches for urban climate change adaptation. There is widespread consensus that they both support and require transdisciplinary approaches, notably by involving citizens in the change process and finding innovative ways to unite different actors’ efforts and capacities. However, there is little empirical evidence regarding the actual value of citizen involvement to sustainability in this field. Against this background, this paper examines whether (or not) current forms and conditions of citizen involvement help to create a platform to support nature-based solutions and ensure a transformative adaptation process. The results show that under current conditions, citizen engagement often hampers sustainable outcomes. In fact, current structures and mechanisms for mainstreaming nature and climate considerations into sectoral planning are limited and, furthermore, neglect citizen involvement. In addition, there is a blind spot with respect to personal spheres of transformation toward sustainability regarding citizens, civil servants, and decision-makers. Key constraints are power structures and the lack of cognitive/emotional and relational capacities required for improved democratic governance. If we are to tap into the potential of nature-based solutions to increase climate adaptation governance, we need targeted financial and human resources, and greater capacity to overcome current constraints and support all levels and phases of mainstreaming, notably planning, implementation, monitoring, and learning.

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author
; ; ; ; ; ; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
Citizen engagement, Citizen participation, Citizen science, Climate change adaptation, Co-Production, Collaborative governance, Disaster risk reduction, Ecosystem services, Ecosystem-based adaptation, Ecosystem-based planning, Emotions, Nature-based solutions, Public participation, Sustainability, Values
in
Climatic Change
volume
158
issue
2
pages
20 pages
publisher
Springer Science and Business Media B.V.
external identifiers
  • scopus:85074755618
ISSN
0165-0009
DOI
10.1007/s10584-019-02557-9
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
23bf793e-8c7d-4655-bdc3-cbd3b3d128c5
date added to LUP
2019-12-03 10:03:34
date last changed
2025-04-04 14:51:55
@article{23bf793e-8c7d-4655-bdc3-cbd3b3d128c5,
  abstract     = {{<p>Scholars and practitioners are increasingly promoting so-called nature-based approaches for urban climate change adaptation. There is widespread consensus that they both support and require transdisciplinary approaches, notably by involving citizens in the change process and finding innovative ways to unite different actors’ efforts and capacities. However, there is little empirical evidence regarding the actual value of citizen involvement to sustainability in this field. Against this background, this paper examines whether (or not) current forms and conditions of citizen involvement help to create a platform to support nature-based solutions and ensure a transformative adaptation process. The results show that under current conditions, citizen engagement often hampers sustainable outcomes. In fact, current structures and mechanisms for mainstreaming nature and climate considerations into sectoral planning are limited and, furthermore, neglect citizen involvement. In addition, there is a blind spot with respect to personal spheres of transformation toward sustainability regarding citizens, civil servants, and decision-makers. Key constraints are power structures and the lack of cognitive/emotional and relational capacities required for improved democratic governance. If we are to tap into the potential of nature-based solutions to increase climate adaptation governance, we need targeted financial and human resources, and greater capacity to overcome current constraints and support all levels and phases of mainstreaming, notably planning, implementation, monitoring, and learning.</p>}},
  author       = {{Wamsler, C. and Alkan-Olsson, J. and Björn, H. and Falck, H. and Hanson, H. and Oskarsson, T. and Simonsson, E. and Zelmerlow, F.}},
  issn         = {{0165-0009}},
  keywords     = {{Citizen engagement; Citizen participation; Citizen science; Climate change adaptation; Co-Production; Collaborative governance; Disaster risk reduction; Ecosystem services; Ecosystem-based adaptation; Ecosystem-based planning; Emotions; Nature-based solutions; Public participation; Sustainability; Values}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{2}},
  pages        = {{235--254}},
  publisher    = {{Springer Science and Business Media B.V.}},
  series       = {{Climatic Change}},
  title        = {{Beyond participation : when citizen engagement leads to undesirable outcomes for nature-based solutions and climate change adaptation}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10584-019-02557-9}},
  doi          = {{10.1007/s10584-019-02557-9}},
  volume       = {{158}},
  year         = {{2020}},
}