Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Inter-relationships between adaptation and mitigation: a systematic literature review

  • Published:
Climatic Change Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Based on a systematic literature review method that consists of a bibliometric and a content analysis, we examine the current state of research on climate change adaptation and mitigation inter-relationships. Although systematic literature reviews have been applied in other research fields such as health sciences, there are only a few examples in social and environmental sciences. First, we investigate in which research fields the inter-relationships between adaptation and mitigation have been studied and how they have been conceptualised. Second, we analyse what kinds of synergies, trade-offs or conflicts between adaptation and mitigation policies and practices can be identified particularly in urban studies. Third, based on selected urban studies, we examine how inter-relationships between the two policy objectives or practical measures have been studied, in which context, and what is the main outcome of these studies. We also present what suggestions there are for solving conflicts, and how synergies can be enhanced in urban areas. The results indicate that there is value in examining the two together since urban areas are balancing between adaptation and mitigation and have to negotiate trade-offs at different scales.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Ayers JM, Huq S (2009) The value of linking mitigation and adaptation: a case study of Bangladesh. Environ Manag 43:753–764

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balaban O, Puppim de Oliveira JA (2013) Understanding the links between urban regeneration and climate-friendly urban development: lessons from two case studies in Japan. Local Environ. doi:10.1080/13549839.2013.798634

    Google Scholar 

  • Barbhuiya S, Barbhuiya S, Nikraz H (2013) Adaptation to the future climate: a low carbon building design challenge. Procedia Eng 51:194–199

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Becken S (2005) Harmonising climate change adaptation and mitigation: the case of tourist resorts in Fiji. Global Environ Chang 15:381–393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berrang-Ford L, Ford JD, Paterson J (2011) Are we adapting to climate change? Global Environ Chang 21:25–33

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Berrang-Ford L, Pearce T, Ford JD (2015) Systematic review approaches for climate change adaptation research. Reg Environ Chang. doi:10.1007/s10113-014-0708-7

    Google Scholar 

  • Bulkeley H (2013) Cities and climate change. Routledge

  • Cash DW, Adger WN, Berkes F, Garden P, Lebel L, Olsson P, Pritchard L, Young O (2006) Scale and cross-scale dynamics: governance and information in a multilevel world. Ecol Soc 11(2):8

    Google Scholar 

  • Dymén C, Langlais R (2013) Adapting to climate change in Swedish planning practice. J Plan Educ Res 33:108–119

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fink A (2005) Conducting research literature reviews: from the internet to the paper. Sage Publications, Inc., Thousand Oaks

    Google Scholar 

  • Ford JD, Berrang-Ford L, Paterson J (2011) A systematic review of observed climate change adaptation in developed nations. Clim Chang 106:327–336

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Franzosi R (2008) Content analysis. SAGE benchmarks in social research methods, vol. 4. SAGE Publications Ltd, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Giordano T (2012) Adaptive planning for climate resilient long-lived infrastructures. Util Policy 23:80–89

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gupta R, Gregg M (2013) Using UK climate change projections to adapt existing English homes for a warming climate. Build Environ 55:20–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hall J, Dawson R, Barr S, Batty M, Bristow A, Carney S, Dagoumas A, Ford A, Harpham C, Tight M (2010) City-scale integrated assessment of climate impacts, adaptation and mitigation. In: Bose R (ed) Energy efficient cities: assessment tools and benchmarking practices. World Bank, Washington, pp 43–64

    Google Scholar 

  • Hallegatte S, Corfee-Morlot J (2011) Understanding climate change impacts, vulnerability and adaptation at city scale: an introduction. Clim Chang 104:1–12

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hamin EM, Gurran N (2009) Urban form and climate change: balancing adaptation and mitigation in the US and Australia. Habitat Int 33:238–245

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Janssen MA, Schoon ML, Ke W, Börner K (2006) Scholarly networks on resilience, vulnerability and adaptation within the human dimensions of global environmental change. Global Environ Chang 16:240–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jordan F (2009) Urban responses to climate change. Reg Dev Dialogue 30:60–75

    Google Scholar 

  • Juhola S, Driscoll P, Mendler de Suarez J, Suarez P (2013) Social strategy games in communicating trade-offs between mitigation and adaptation in cities. Urban Clim 4:102–116

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Kirshen P, Ruth M, Anderson W (2008) Interdependencies of urban climate change impacts and adaptation strategies: a case study of Metropolitan Boston USA. Clim Chang 86: 105–122

  • Klein RJ, Schipper ELF, Dessai S (2005) Integrating mitigation and adaptation into climate and development policy: three research questions. Environ Sci Policy 8:579–588

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Klein RJT, Huq S, Denton F, Downing TE, Richels RG, Robinson JB, Toth FL (2007) Inter-relationships between adaptation and mitigation. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate Change 2007: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Contribution of the Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 745–777

    Google Scholar 

  • Larsen SV, Kørnøv L, Wejs A (2012) Mind the gap in SEA: an institutional perspective on why assessment of synergies amongst climate change mitigation, adaptation and other policy areas are missing. Environ Impact Assess Rev 33:32–40

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Laukkonen J, Blanco PK, Lenhart J, Keiner M, Cavric B, Kinuthia-Njenga C (2009) Combining climate change adaptation and mitigation measures at the local level. Habitat Int 33:287–292

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McEvoy D, Lindley S, Handley J (2006) Adaptation and mitigation in urban areas: synergies and conflicts. Proc ICE-Munic Eng 159:185–192

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McGranahan G, Satterthwaite D (2014) Urbanisation concepts and trends. IIED Working Paper, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Moser SC (2012) Adaptation, mitigation, and their disharmonious discontents: an essay. Clim Chang 111:165–175

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Neufeldt H, Jochem E, Hinkel J, Huitma D, Massey E, Watkiss P, McEvoy D, Rayner T, Hof A, Lonsdale K (2010) Climate policy and inter-linkages between adaptation and mitigation. In: Hulme M, Neufeldt H (eds) Making climate change work for us. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 3–30

    Google Scholar 

  • Norman B (2009) Principles for an intergovernmental agreement for coastal planning and climate change in Australia. Habitat Int 33:293–299

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • OED (2015) Oxford Dictionaries. Oxford University Press. http://www.oxforddictionaries.com/. Accessed 5 Mar 2015

  • Ogola PFA, Davidsdottír B, Fridleifsson IB (2012) Opportunities for adaptation-mitigation synergies in geothermal energy utilization-Initial conceptual frameworks. Mit Adapt Strat Global Chang 17:507–536

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Puppim de Oliveira JA (2009) The implementation of climate change related policies at the subnational level: an analysis of three countries. Habitat Int 33:253–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Revi A (2008) Climate change risk: an adaptation and mitigation agenda for Indian cities. Environ Urban 20(1):207–229

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roberts D, Boon R, Diederichs N, Douwes E, Govender N, McInnes A, McLean C, O’Donoghue S, Spires M (2012) Exploring ecosystem-based adaptation in Durban, South Africa: “learning-by-doing” at the local government coal face. Environ Urban 24:167–195

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Roy M (2009) Planning for sustainable urbanisation in fast growing cities: mitigation and adaptation issues addressed in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Habitat Int 33:276–286

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Saavedra C, Budd WW (2009) Climate change and environmental planning: working to build community resilience and adaptive capacity in Washington State, USA. Habitat Int 33:246–252

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sheppard SR, Shaw A, Flanders D, Burch S, Wiek A, Carmichael J, Robinson J, Cohen S (2011) Future visioning of local climate change: a framework for community engagement and planning with scenarios and visualisation. Futures 43:400–412

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Somorin OA, Brown H, Visseren-Hamakers IJ, Sonwa DJ, Arts B, Nkem J (2012) The Congo Basin forests in a changing climate: policy discourses on adaptation and mitigation (REDD). Global Environ Chang 22:288–298

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Stuck AE, Walthert JM, Nikolaus T, Büla CJ, Hohmann C, Beck JC (1999) Risk factors for functional status decline in community-living elderly people: a systematic literature review. Soc Sci Med 48:445–469

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sugar L, Kennedy C, Hoornweg D (2013) Synergies between climate change adaptation and mitigation in development: case studies of Amman, Jakarta, and Dar es Salaam. Int J Clim Chang Str 5:95–111

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sund-Levander M, Forsberg C, Wahren LK (2002) Normal oral, rectal, tympanic and axillary body temperature in adult men and women: a systematic literature review. Scand J Caring Sci 16:122–128

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Swart R, Raes F (2007) Making integration of adaptation and mitigation work: mainstreaming into sustainable development policies? Clim Pol 7:288–303

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Thornbush M, Golubchikov O, Bouzarovski S (2013) Sustainable cities targeted by combined mitigation–adaptation efforts for future-proofing. Sust Cities Soc 9:1–9

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tol RS (2005) Adaptation and mitigation: trade-offs in substance and methods. Environ Sci Policy 8:572–578

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Tompkins EL, Neil Adger W (2005) Defining response capacity to enhance climate change policy. Environ Sci Policy 8:562–571

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Vieira ES, Gomes JA (2009) A comparison of Scopus and Web of science for a typical university. Scientometrics 81:587–600

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viguié V, Hallegatte S (2012) Trade-offs and synergies in urban climate policies. Nat Clim Chang 2:334–337

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Walsh CL, Dawson RJ, Hall JW, Barr SL, Batty M, Bristow AL, Carney S, Dagoumas AS, Ford AC, Harpham C (2011) Assessment of climate change mitigation and adaptation in cities. Proc ICE-Urban Design Plan 164:75–84

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wang R (2013) Adopting local climate policies. What have California cities done and why? Urban Aff Rev 49:593–613

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Wilbanks TJ, Kane SM, Leiby PN, Perlack RD, Settle C, Shogren JF, Smith JB (2003) Possible responses to global climate change: integrating mitigation and adaptation. Environ: Sci Policy Sust Dev 45:28–38

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams K, Joynt JL, Hopkins D (2010) Adapting to climate change in the compact city: the suburban challenge. Built Environ 36:105–115

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Williams K, Gupta R, Hopkins D, Gregg M, Payne C, Joynt JLR, Smith I, Bates-Brkljac N (2013) Retrofitting England’s suburbs to adapt to climate change. Build Res Inf 41:517–531

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Zimmerman R, Faris C (2011) Climate change mitigation and adaptation in North American cities. Curr Opin Environ Sust 3:181–187

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This article is a deliverable of the Nordic Centre of Excellence for Strategic Adaptation Research (NORD-STAR), which is funded by the Norden Top-level Research Initiative sub-programme ‘Effect Studies and Adaptation to Climate Change.’

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Real Estate, Planning and Geoinformatics, Aalto University, P.O. Box 12200, (Rakentajanaukio 2C Espoo), FI-00076, Aalto, Finland

    Mia Landauer, Sirkku Juhola & Maria Söderholm

  2. Department of Environmental Sciences, University of Helsinki, P.O. Box 65, (Viikinkaari 1 Helsinki), FI-00014, Helsinki, Finland

    Sirkku Juhola

  3. Risk, Policy and Vulnerability Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis (IIASA), Schlossplatz 1, A-2361, Laxenburg, Austria

    Mia Landauer

Authors
  1. Mia Landauer
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Sirkku Juhola
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Maria Söderholm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Mia Landauer.

Electronic supplementary material

Below is the link to the electronic supplementary material.

ESM 1

(PDF 367 kb)

ESM 2

(PDF 70.5 kb)

ESM 3

(PDF 323 kb)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Landauer, M., Juhola, S. & Söderholm, M. Inter-relationships between adaptation and mitigation: a systematic literature review. Climatic Change 131, 505–517 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-015-1395-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-015-1395-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation