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“It’s only possible with resistance.” Understanding the Importance of Public Participation and Power in Climate Change Adaptation on the Halligen, Germany

Küchler, Friederike LU (2022) In Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science MESM02 20221
LUCSUS (Lund University Centre for Sustainability Studies)
Abstract
Halligen are small low-lying islands that only exist in the North Sea and get flooded during storm surges. The North Sea’s Sea level is projected to rise 60 to 70cm by 2100, making climate change adaptation a question of survival for the Hallig residents. Previous research has focused on technical aspects of adaptation, leaving a knowledge gap on how power and public participation shape adaptation on the Halligen. This thesis contributes to an increased understanding of how power and participation shape adaptation on the Halligen. Data was collected through 17 qualitative interviews with residents and government representatives. The content analysis shows that a lack of traditional knowledge incorporation in decision-making can result in... (More)
Halligen are small low-lying islands that only exist in the North Sea and get flooded during storm surges. The North Sea’s Sea level is projected to rise 60 to 70cm by 2100, making climate change adaptation a question of survival for the Hallig residents. Previous research has focused on technical aspects of adaptation, leaving a knowledge gap on how power and public participation shape adaptation on the Halligen. This thesis contributes to an increased understanding of how power and participation shape adaptation on the Halligen. Data was collected through 17 qualitative interviews with residents and government representatives. The content analysis shows that a lack of traditional knowledge incorporation in decision-making can result in ineffective climate change adaptation. Furthermore, authorities’ power over the residents limits their resistance. I conclude that an understanding of power relations and how to involve knowledge coproduction is needed to develop robust and effective climate change adaptation. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
Küchler, Friederike LU
supervisor
organization
course
MESM02 20221
year
type
H2 - Master's Degree (Two Years)
subject
keywords
traditional knowledge, actor-oriented power perspective, low lying islands, refusal, sustainability science, maladaptation, Halligen, Germany
publication/series
Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science
report number
2022:012
language
English
id
9081751
date added to LUP
2022-06-01 10:33:34
date last changed
2022-06-02 10:53:54
@misc{9081751,
  abstract     = {{Halligen are small low-lying islands that only exist in the North Sea and get flooded during storm surges. The North Sea’s Sea level is projected to rise 60 to 70cm by 2100, making climate change adaptation a question of survival for the Hallig residents. Previous research has focused on technical aspects of adaptation, leaving a knowledge gap on how power and public participation shape adaptation on the Halligen. This thesis contributes to an increased understanding of how power and participation shape adaptation on the Halligen. Data was collected through 17 qualitative interviews with residents and government representatives. The content analysis shows that a lack of traditional knowledge incorporation in decision-making can result in ineffective climate change adaptation. Furthermore, authorities’ power over the residents limits their resistance. I conclude that an understanding of power relations and how to involve knowledge coproduction is needed to develop robust and effective climate change adaptation.}},
  author       = {{Küchler, Friederike}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  note         = {{Student Paper}},
  series       = {{Master Thesis Series in Environmental Studies and Sustainability Science}},
  title        = {{“It’s only possible with resistance.” Understanding the Importance of Public Participation and Power in Climate Change Adaptation on the Halligen, Germany}},
  year         = {{2022}},
}