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A systematic review of observed climate change adaptation in developed nations
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  • Letter
  • Open Access
  • Published: 05 March 2011

A systematic review of observed climate change adaptation in developed nations

A letter

  • James D. Ford1,
  • Lea Berrang-Ford1 &
  • Jaclyn Paterson1 

Climatic Change volume 106, pages 327–336 (2011)Cite this article

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Abstract

We develop and apply a systematic mixed-methods literature review methodology to identify and characterize how climate change adaptation is taking place in developed nations. We find limited evidence of adaptation action. Where interventions are being implemented and reported on, they are typically in sectors that are sensitive to climate impacts, are most common at the municipal level, facilitated by higher-level government interventions, with responses typically institutional in nature. There is negligible description of adaptation taking place with respect to vulnerable groups, with reporting unequal by region and sector. The methodology offers important insights for meta-analyses in climate change scholarship and can be used for monitoring progress in adaptation over time.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geography, McGill University, Montreal, H3A2K6, Canada

    James D. Ford, Lea Berrang-Ford & Jaclyn Paterson

Authors
  1. James D. Ford
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  2. Lea Berrang-Ford
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  3. Jaclyn Paterson
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to James D. Ford.

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Open Access This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0), which permits any noncommercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author(s) and source are credited.

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Cite this article

Ford, J.D., Berrang-Ford, L. & Paterson, J. A systematic review of observed climate change adaptation in developed nations. Climatic Change 106, 327–336 (2011). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0045-5

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  • Received: 16 November 2010

  • Accepted: 26 January 2011

  • Published: 05 March 2011

  • Issue Date: May 2011

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10584-011-0045-5

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Keywords

  • Climate Change
  • Climate Change Adaptation
  • Develop Nation
  • Adaptation Action
  • Systematic Review Methodology
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