SOLidarity in climate change Adaptation policies: towards more socio-spatial justice in the face of multiple RISks.
Lead Research Organisation:
Middlesex University
Department Name: Faculty of Science & Technology
Abstract
Mitigation policies are insufficient to deal with "dangerous anthropogenic interference" (IPCC, 2018) and adaptation is critical. Climate change adaptation policies need to address physical impacts, but are subject to social, political and spatial trade-offs. In Europe, major implementation challenges arise in relation to democracy, solidarity and social justice. We must anticipate the distributional impacts of deliberative participation processes when forming policies. SOLARIS ("SOLidarity in climate change Adaptation policies: towards more socio- spatial justice in the face of multiple RISks") focuses on social-spatial injustices of Climate Change Adaptation Policies (CCAP). SOLARIS aims to fill the gap in analysis of social justice in relation to climate change adaptation policies. SOLARIS has both scientific and societal objectives and outcomes. It aims to: develop conceptual and analytical approaches to reveal social justice perspectives of CCAPs and explore the policy and decision-making process for a large range of stakeholders (e.g. policy-makers, practitioners, citizens etc.) to facilitate better participatory processes.
Our hypothesis in the SOLARIS project is that social and spatial inequalities exist and threaten the implementation of climate change adaptation policies and the equitable involvement of affected citizens. Several potential social injustices may occur in face of climate change and policies implemented to assist adaptation: i) injustice in the levels of risk experienced and how these will be impacted by climate changes ii) injustice related to the level of contribution to tackling risk and implementing climate adaptation iii) differences in the level of ability to impact decision-making, and iv) injustice in the capacity to respond and adapt. Understanding how these injustices occur and who is advantaged or disadvantaged and in what manner is critical to implementing socially acceptable and just climate change adaptation policies.
This is particularly true for floods, that are among the main climate and weather-related causes of damage in Europe. Through the lens of flood risk management, we will evaluate the design of climate change adaptation policies and the instruments that they use to reduce the risk from extreme events. Concentrating on those strategies which better integrate adaptive actions, SOLARIS focuses on flood prevention, the accommodation of water to reduce impacts and flood preparation and recovery. A case study approach will be adopted (2 per country) to analyse cases which have implemented, or which are in the process of implementing climate change adaptation policies. This approach permits the study of ongoing participation as well as exampling the socio-spatial inequalities that may only be revealed post- implementation.
Based on multi-disciplinary research from four countries (Belgium, England, Finland, France), the SOLARIS project addresses two questions:
i) How can we assess and map socio-spatial inequalities related to the implementation of climate change adaptation policies? We explore what factors make specific groups less involved in climate change adaptation policies and analyse their distributional impacts. ii) How are inequalities addressed by adaptation policies? We examine what solidarity mechanisms are implemented and how affected groups are engaged in adaptation policies. Integration in the decision-making process is studied through citizen participation during the processes of definition and implementation.
Through these two research questions, the project contributes to the first call priority: Social justice and participation. SOLARIS addresses adaptation to climate change through revealing injustice and need for solidarity. It also aims to assess the public participation of citizens during the design and implementation of CCAP planning instruments in the case of flood risk strategies and how these processes impact on the distribution of outcomes.
Our hypothesis in the SOLARIS project is that social and spatial inequalities exist and threaten the implementation of climate change adaptation policies and the equitable involvement of affected citizens. Several potential social injustices may occur in face of climate change and policies implemented to assist adaptation: i) injustice in the levels of risk experienced and how these will be impacted by climate changes ii) injustice related to the level of contribution to tackling risk and implementing climate adaptation iii) differences in the level of ability to impact decision-making, and iv) injustice in the capacity to respond and adapt. Understanding how these injustices occur and who is advantaged or disadvantaged and in what manner is critical to implementing socially acceptable and just climate change adaptation policies.
This is particularly true for floods, that are among the main climate and weather-related causes of damage in Europe. Through the lens of flood risk management, we will evaluate the design of climate change adaptation policies and the instruments that they use to reduce the risk from extreme events. Concentrating on those strategies which better integrate adaptive actions, SOLARIS focuses on flood prevention, the accommodation of water to reduce impacts and flood preparation and recovery. A case study approach will be adopted (2 per country) to analyse cases which have implemented, or which are in the process of implementing climate change adaptation policies. This approach permits the study of ongoing participation as well as exampling the socio-spatial inequalities that may only be revealed post- implementation.
Based on multi-disciplinary research from four countries (Belgium, England, Finland, France), the SOLARIS project addresses two questions:
i) How can we assess and map socio-spatial inequalities related to the implementation of climate change adaptation policies? We explore what factors make specific groups less involved in climate change adaptation policies and analyse their distributional impacts. ii) How are inequalities addressed by adaptation policies? We examine what solidarity mechanisms are implemented and how affected groups are engaged in adaptation policies. Integration in the decision-making process is studied through citizen participation during the processes of definition and implementation.
Through these two research questions, the project contributes to the first call priority: Social justice and participation. SOLARIS addresses adaptation to climate change through revealing injustice and need for solidarity. It also aims to assess the public participation of citizens during the design and implementation of CCAP planning instruments in the case of flood risk strategies and how these processes impact on the distribution of outcomes.
Organisations
- Middlesex University (Lead Research Organisation)
- National Flood Forum (Collaboration)
- National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts (Collaboration)
- François Rabelais University or University of Tours (Collaboration)
- University of Paris-Est (Collaboration)
- University of Antwerp (Collaboration)
- Finnish Environment Institute (Collaboration)
People |
ORCID iD |
Sally Priest (Principal Investigator) |
Publications
Paauw M
(2024)
Recognition of differences in the capacity to deal with floods-A cross-country comparison of flood risk management
in Journal of Flood Risk Management
Description | Ocean Frontier Institute Visiting Fellowship Program |
Amount | $8,000 (CAD) |
Organisation | Ocean Frontier Institute |
Sector | Public |
Country | Canada |
Start | 06/2023 |
End | 08/2023 |
Title | Justice and equality in flood risk management - a conceptual framework. |
Description | This conceptual framework is being developed in collaboration with the other SOLARIS teams to guide the project research. Based on literature reviews, workshops and group discussions, the framework outlines a series of essential concepts for studying justice and equality in flood risk management. It also indicates the relationship between these concepts and the role that they will play in understanding both processual and distributive justice, as well as opportunities for increased public participation in decision making. |
Type Of Material | Improvements to research infrastructure |
Year Produced | 2021 |
Provided To Others? | No |
Impact | The tool is useful for all four teams involved in SOLARIS to focus their national and case study research. It acts as a guide from which lower-level research questions can be developed. It is important to note that this conceptual framework exists in the form of a 'living document' that can be periodically updated by the whole SOLARIS team as the project progresses. It will then be be finalised and used towards the end of the SOLARIS project as a guide for returning to the key themes, and for contextualising and comparing research findings. |
Description | Research collaboration with the National Flood Forum |
Organisation | National Flood Forum |
Country | United Kingdom |
Sector | Charity/Non Profit |
PI Contribution | The Flood Hazard Research Centre (FHRC) is able to contribute research effort to the development, by the National Flood Forum (NFF), of one of its localised resilience innovation projects. Discussions are currently underway as to which project this arrangement might best work for, and what the contribution of the centre might be. SOLARIS is an ideal fit for part of this contribution. |
Collaborator Contribution | The NFF has developed links with communities on the topic of flooding that are extremely useful for the SOLARIS project. |
Impact | The collaboration is in its early stages. It is likely to produce data relating to the fairness of the distribution of flood risk management initiatives. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Various international research partner institutes. |
Organisation | François Rabelais University or University of Tours |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are collaborating with these institutes on the general themes and research priorities of the SOLARIS project. We will also provide the data from the English case studies for comparative analysis with those conducted in the various countries. These results will feed into the collaborative findings and international learning on the issues of justice and equality in flood risk management. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners reciprocate the knowledge exchange described above. |
Impact | At the time of reporting the first output from the collaboration is being finalised: national country profiles detailing flood risk, flood policy, and how justice and equality are addressed by flood policy at the national level. Due for completion in August 2022. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Various international research partner institutes. |
Organisation | National Conservatory of Arts and Crafts |
Country | France |
Sector | Hospitals |
PI Contribution | We are collaborating with these institutes on the general themes and research priorities of the SOLARIS project. We will also provide the data from the English case studies for comparative analysis with those conducted in the various countries. These results will feed into the collaborative findings and international learning on the issues of justice and equality in flood risk management. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners reciprocate the knowledge exchange described above. |
Impact | At the time of reporting the first output from the collaboration is being finalised: national country profiles detailing flood risk, flood policy, and how justice and equality are addressed by flood policy at the national level. Due for completion in August 2022. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Various international research partner institutes. |
Organisation | The Finnish Environment Institute |
Country | Finland |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are collaborating with these institutes on the general themes and research priorities of the SOLARIS project. We will also provide the data from the English case studies for comparative analysis with those conducted in the various countries. These results will feed into the collaborative findings and international learning on the issues of justice and equality in flood risk management. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners reciprocate the knowledge exchange described above. |
Impact | At the time of reporting the first output from the collaboration is being finalised: national country profiles detailing flood risk, flood policy, and how justice and equality are addressed by flood policy at the national level. Due for completion in August 2022. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Various international research partner institutes. |
Organisation | University of Antwerp |
Country | Belgium |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are collaborating with these institutes on the general themes and research priorities of the SOLARIS project. We will also provide the data from the English case studies for comparative analysis with those conducted in the various countries. These results will feed into the collaborative findings and international learning on the issues of justice and equality in flood risk management. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners reciprocate the knowledge exchange described above. |
Impact | At the time of reporting the first output from the collaboration is being finalised: national country profiles detailing flood risk, flood policy, and how justice and equality are addressed by flood policy at the national level. Due for completion in August 2022. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Various international research partner institutes. |
Organisation | University of Paris-Est |
Country | France |
Sector | Academic/University |
PI Contribution | We are collaborating with these institutes on the general themes and research priorities of the SOLARIS project. We will also provide the data from the English case studies for comparative analysis with those conducted in the various countries. These results will feed into the collaborative findings and international learning on the issues of justice and equality in flood risk management. |
Collaborator Contribution | The partners reciprocate the knowledge exchange described above. |
Impact | At the time of reporting the first output from the collaboration is being finalised: national country profiles detailing flood risk, flood policy, and how justice and equality are addressed by flood policy at the national level. Due for completion in August 2022. |
Start Year | 2021 |
Description | Justice perspectives on flood resilience - Keynote |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | Invited keynote presentation at the International workshop on Flood Risk and Resilience at Community Level, 1-2 December 2022. This had a mix of academic and local (to Munich) practitioner audience. Sally Priest also participated in a panel discussion about the issues of community level resilience which were raised. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
Description | Local surface water drainage group meeting - Manhood Peninsula |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A formal working group, expert panel or dialogue |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Policymakers/politicians |
Results and Impact | Surface Water Issues and Solutions Group (SWISh) on the Manhood Peninsula, West Sussex, invited us to share our research results from SOLARIS. The event was attended by several politicians as well as flood risk management experts. The session provided a platform for learning exchange between practitioners and researchers. Interest was very high the in justice and equality aspects of flood risk management, which practitioners often feel does not play a big enough role in applied flood risk management activities. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2022 |
URL | https://peninsulapartnership.org.uk/projects/swish/ |
Description | Planning at the land-sea interface for climate change adaptation. |
Form Of Engagement Activity | A talk or presentation |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | International |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I was invited to give a seminar at the University of Essex on planning for climate change adaptation at the coast. Attendees include mostly students from the undergraduate and postgraduate courses in marine biology, marine science, and sustainability courses. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2023 |
Description | Research-Led teaching workshops |
Form Of Engagement Activity | Participation in an activity, workshop or similar |
Part Of Official Scheme? | No |
Geographic Reach | Local |
Primary Audience | Postgraduate students |
Results and Impact | I have discussed the project, its approach and some findings with students across a number of different teaching sessions. This has been both in the context of subject-based teaching (e.g. related to climate risks, flood risks or inequity/injustice), but also in the context of research methods. Overall, this has had the reach of c. 50 students per year. |
Year(s) Of Engagement Activity | 2021,2022 |