Governance and Economy

Attention in the Knowledge for Climate programme focuses primarily on spatial adaptation to climate change and strategies will need to be developed that contribute to climate-proofing the Netherlands (and the different regions within it). In addition to a substantive component, these strategies also have an (economic and policy) governance component. The latter is central in this theme. The question here is how to increase the ‘adaptive capacity’ of our society. Analysis of the adaptive capacity will be coupled specifically to the substantive component (the feasibility of physical spatial adaptation) and to the existing institutional structures. Strategies and instruments for adaptation can differ according to the substantive issues under discussion. Furthermore, adaptation strategies must be in line with the current institutional structures of a policy area such as the relevant (European and national) legislation, the public and private parties involved (and the associated tasks and responsibilities) and the prevailing normative principles. This does not alter the fact that, given the necessary effectiveness of adaptation policy, essential adjustments to the institutional structures could arise from the research to be carried out.

Six building blocks are considered important to promote adaptive capacity in this theme:

1. the institutional structure
2. dealing with uncertainties and perceptions of risk
3. supervising policy processes
4. the utilisation of policy instruments
5. the carrying-over of knowledge to adaptation policy
6. socioeconomic capacities. 

Key questions

• Are reinforcements or adjustments to the institutional structure (including funding regimes) necessary in order to effect climate adaptation policy? What is the relationship between the private and public efforts in climate adaptation?
• How can we deal wisely with uncertainties, risks and perceptions in regional climate adaptation projects, for instance by means of insurance?
• How can regional policy processes aimed at climate adaptation be organised, taking into account the level of support, linkage to other interests, unobstructed implementation and long-term perspectives? 
• What existing and/or new policy instruments can be used in national and regional climate adaptation policy, and what is the role of financial and economic instruments in this regard?
• What improvements are feasible in the relationship between knowledge development and policy
  implementation? 
• What can we learn from experiences abroad in the field of governance and adaptation?

A Consortium on Governance of Adaptation was formed in 2010. This Consortium research programme will develop and test governance arrangements that will contribute to:

1. developing and implementing adaptation options
2. increasing the adaptive capacity of society so that future climate changes can be sufficiently dealt with 

View the list with CcSP and KfC projects with regard to this Research theme.