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Climate change vulnerability assessments as catalysts for social learning: four case studies in south-eastern Australia

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Abstract

Technical assessments of vulnerability and/or risk are increasingly being undertaken to assess the impacts of climate change. Underlying this is the belief that they will bring clarity to questions regarding the scale of institutional investments required, plausible adaptation policies and measures, and the timing of their implementation. Despite the perceived importance of technical assessments in 'evidence-based' decision environments, assessments cannot be undertaken independent of values and politics, nor are they capable of eliminating the uncertainty that clouds decision-making on climate adaptation As such, assessments can trigger as many questions as they answer, leaving practitioners and stakeholders to question their value. This paper explores the value of vulnerability/risk assessments in climate change adaptation planning processes as a catalyst for learning in four case studies in Southeastern Australia. Data were collected using qualitative interviews with stakeholders involved in the assessments and analysed using a social learning framework. This analysis revealed that detailed and tangible strategies or actions often do not emerge directly from technical assessments. However, it also revealed that the assessments became important platforms for social learning. In providing these platforms, assessments present opportunities to question initial assumptions, explore multiple framings of an issue, generate new information, and galvanise support for collective actions. This study highlights the need for more explicit recognition and understanding of the important role social learning plays in climate change vulnerability assessments and adaptation planning more broadly.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the project managers of the four case studies for their support, all the interviewees who gave up their time to be interviewed, the reviewers for their valuable comments and the CSIRO Climate Change Adaptation Flagship who funded the research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. CSIRO Marine and Atmospheric, 107-121 Station Street, Aspendale, Victoria, 3195, Australia

    Emma Yuen

  2. CSIRO Ecosystem Sciences and Climate Adaptation Flagship, James Cook University, ATSIP, Bld 145 James Cook Drive, Douglas Campus, Townsville, Queensland, 4811, Australia

    Samantha Stone Jovicich

  3. Climate Change Science Institute, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, PO Box 2008, MS-6038, Oak Ridge, TN, 37831-6253, USA

    Benjamin L. Preston

Authors
  1. Emma Yuen
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  2. Samantha Stone Jovicich
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  3. Benjamin L. Preston
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Emma Yuen.

Appendices

Appendix A

Table 2 Background on the vulnerability assessments undertaken
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Appendix B

Table 3 Process of undertaking the vulnerability assessment
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Appendix C

Table 4 List of lessons learnt and number of case studies in which the theme was identified
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Yuen, E., Jovicich, S.S. & Preston, B.L. Climate change vulnerability assessments as catalysts for social learning: four case studies in south-eastern Australia. Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change 18, 567–590 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-012-9376-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-012-9376-4

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