Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in
Book cover

The Economic, Social and Political Elements of Climate Change pp 669–692Cite as

Opportunities and Constraints for Climate Adaptation in Regional Water and Land Use Planning

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:

Part of the book series: Climate Change Management ((CCM))

Abstract

Whereas the literature on adaptation is rich in detail on the impacts of, vulnerability to, and constraints of climate adaptation, less is known about the conditions that facilitate adaptation in practice. We examined the constraints and opportunities for adaptation in water and land use planning in three regions: the Guadiana River Basin in Spain and Portugal, the Tisza River Basin in Hungary and western Inner Mongolia in China. We analysed the conditions that either facilitate or constrain adaptation in relation to (1) adaptation actors, (2) adaptation strategies, and (3) adaptation objectives. Many adaptation assessments concentrate on climate impacts and the potential of adaptation strategies. The conditions that enable people to act on adaptation are less studied. Yet these have been identified as particularly important for successfully implementing adaptation. We find that adaptation is enhanced by pilot projects that test and debate new ideas through collaboration between recognized actors from civil society, policy, and science. Promising for adaptation is the integration of (traditional) agro-environmental land use systems that regulate regional climate impacts with new technologies, organizational responsibilities and financial instruments. A key challenge is to create flexible and equitable financial instruments that facilitate benefit and burden sharing, social learning, and that support a diverse set of potentially better adapted new activities rather than compensate for climate impacts on existing activities.

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

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   169.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   219.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • ADB (2005) Regional master plan for the prevention and control of dust and sandstorms in Northeast Asia

    Google Scholar 

  • Adger WN, Agrawala S, Mirza MMQ, Conde C, O’Brien K, Pulhin J, Pulwarty R, Smit B, Takahashi K (2007) Assessment of adaptation practices, options, constraints and capacity. In: Parry ML, Canziani OF, Palutikof JP, van der Linden PJ, Hanson CE (eds) Climate change 2007: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. Contribution of Working group II to the fourth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 717–743

    Google Scholar 

  • Adger WN, Arnell NW, Tompkins EL (2005) Adapting to climate change: perspectives across scales. Global Environmental Change, Part A 15(2):75–76

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Balogh P (2002) Basics and method of floodplain management on middle-Tisza valley. VATI Kht, Budapest

    Google Scholar 

  • Barta K, Bódis K, Boga TL, Kiss T, Kiss R, Mezősi G, Pálfai I, Rakonczai J, Szlávik L, Török IG (2000) The hydrological risks influencing the development of the Tisza country; resources and opportunities (in Hungarian). University of Szeged, Natural Geography Department, Szeged, HU

    Google Scholar 

  • Bartholy J, Pongrácz R, Gelybó G (2007) Regional climate change expected in Hungary for 2071–2100. Appl Ecol Environ Res 5(1):1–17

    Google Scholar 

  • Bates BC, Kundzewicz ZW, Wu S, Palutikof JP (eds) (2008) Climate change and water. IPCC Secretariat, Geneva

    Google Scholar 

  • Bellon T (2004) Living together with nature. Farming on the river flats in the valley of the Tisza. Acta Ethnographica Hungarica 49(3):243–256

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Brogaard S, Zhao X (2002) Rural reforms and changes in land management and attitudes: a case study from inner Mongolia, China. Ambio 31(3):219–225

    Google Scholar 

  • China Council Task Force on Forest and Grasslands (2001) Report to CCICED Annual Meeting 2001. China Council for International Cooperation on Environment and Development (CCICED), Beijing, China

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission of the European Communities (2000) Directive 2000/60/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a framework for the Community action in the field of water policy (EU Water Framework Directive)

    Google Scholar 

  • Cots F, Tàbara JD, Werners SE, McEvoy D, Roca E (2009) Policy entrepreneurship as an adaptive management response to climate change in a transboundary context. The case of the Guadiana River Basin. Environmental and Planning C (in press)

    Google Scholar 

  • Csete M (2007) Climate change and local sustainability. CEMEPE/SECOTOX Conference, Skiathos island, GR

    Google Scholar 

  • Dai X, Xu Y, Jia G, Fu C, You L, Xiong Z, Yuan J, Hu Yn, Yang H, Wang H, Hu Y, Zhang Y, Liu H, Liu Z, Sun Y, Chou J, Werners SE, Nabuurs G-J (2008) Climate change impacts and adaptation strategies in Inner Mongolia. Mid-term report. Project Report. ADAM Project (EU Project no. 018476-GOCE). www.adamproject.info, Norwich, UK

  • Dickinson D, Webber M (2007) "Environmental resettlement and development on the Steppes of Inner Mongolia, PRC. J Dev Stud 43(3):537–561

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Du F (2006) Grain for green and poverty alleviation. The policy and practice of eological migration in China. Horizons 9(2):45–48

    Google Scholar 

  • Du F, Huang W (2005) Approach on ecological environment problems in Alxa area (in Chinese). Inner Mongolia Environment Protection 17:5–9

    Google Scholar 

  • ECCE Project (2005) A preliminary assessment of the impacts in Spain due to the effects of climate change. Impacts on the agrarian sector – Final report (Evaluación preliminar de los impactos del cambio climático en España (ECCE)). Ministério de Medio Ambiente, Madrid, ES

    Google Scholar 

  • Fekete ÉG (2006) A situation of disadvantage turned into an advantage? Convergence opportunities for backward small regions in the region of Northern Hungary. European Integration Studies 5(1):71–89

    Google Scholar 

  • Footitt A, McKenzie Hedger M (2007) Climate change and water adaptation issues, No. 2/2007. EEA Technical report, European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark

    Google Scholar 

  • Grothmann T, Schauser I, Nenz D, Hain B, McCallum S, Prutsch A, Zebisch M, Pütz M (2009) Climate change adaptation assessment, Lessons learnt from six regional case studies in the European Alps. IHDP Open Meeting, Bonn, DE

    Google Scholar 

  • Isoard S, Swart R (2008) Adaptation to climate change. In: Jol A, Šťastný P, Raes F et al (eds) Impacts of Europe’s changing climate – 2008 indicator-based assessment, vol 4. European Environment Agency, Copenhagen, Denmark, pp 161–166

    Google Scholar 

  • Joffre R, Rambal S, Ratte P (1999) The dehesa system of southern Spain and Portugal as a natural ecosystem mimic. Agroforest Syst 45:57–79

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Jones B, Keating M (eds) (1995) The European union and the regions. Oxford University Press, UK, Oxford

    Google Scholar 

  • Kajner P, Farkas G, Nagy R (eds) (2008) A chance along the River Tisza. Biodiversity Micro Grant Find – Report and prospects, Violet Bt., Hungary

    Google Scholar 

  • Koncsos L, Balogh E (2007) Flood damage calculation supported by inundation model in the Tisza Valley. In 32nd Congress of the International Association of Hydrolic Engineering and Research (IAHR), Venice, Italy

    Google Scholar 

  • Láng I (2006) The project ‘VAHAVA’, Executive summary. Ministry for the Environment and Water Management (KvVM) and the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA), Budapest

    Google Scholar 

  • Linnerooth-Bayer J, Vári A, Thompson M (2006) Floods and fairness and Hungary. In: Verweij M, Thompson M (eds) Clumsy solutions for a complex world: Governance, Politics and Plural Perceptions. Palgrave-Macmillian, Houndmills, Basingstoke, UK, pp 181–204

    Google Scholar 

  • McEvoy D, Cots F, Lonsdale K, Tàbara JD, Werners SE (2007) The role of institutional capacity in enabling climate change adaptation: the case of the Guadiana River Basin. In Proceedings International Symposium on Transborder Environmental and Natural Resource Management, Kyoto, Japan

    Google Scholar 

  • Moriondo M, Good P, Durao R, Bindi M, Giannakopoulus C, Corte-Real J (2006) Potential impact of climate change on fire risk in the Mediterranean area. Clim Res 31:85–95

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • NDRC (2006) The outline of the Eleven Five-year plan for National Economic & Social Develepment of The People's Republic of China, National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Chinese Market Press, Beijing, CN

    Google Scholar 

  • Orioli L, Moriondo M, Brandani G, Bindi M (2008) Combining climate change, land use and some economic aspects for an adaptation strategy in Guadiana river basin, Iberian Peninsula, ADAM project. Tyndall, Norwich

    Google Scholar 

  • Reynolds JF, Stafford-Smith DM, Lambin EF, Turner BL II, Mortimore M, Batterbury SPJ, Downing TE, Dowlatabadi H, Fernandez RJ, Herrick JE, Huber-Sannwald E, Jiang H, Leemans R, Lynam T, Maestre FT, Ayarza M, Walker B (2007) Global desertification: Building a science for Dryland development. Science 316:847–851

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Runhong G (2001) Case study on conversion of farmland to forest and grass in Zhuozi County, Inner Mongolia – Prepared for CCICED Western China Forest Grasslands Task Force, Institute of Forestry, Inner Mongolia Agricultural University, Hohhot, CN

    Google Scholar 

  • Santos FD, Forbes K, Moita R (eds) (2002) Climate Change in Portugal. Scenarios, Impacts and Adaptation Measures. Gradiva, Lisbon, Portugal

    Google Scholar 

  • Sendzimir J, Magnuszewski P, Flachner Z, Balogh P, Molnar G, Sarvari A, Nagy Z (2008) Assessing the resilience of a river management regime: informal learning in a shadow network in the Tisza river basin. Ecol Soc 13(1):11

    Google Scholar 

  • Smit B, Pilifosova O (2001) Adaptation to climate change in the context of sustainable development and equity. In: McCarthy JJ, Canziani O, Leary NA, Dokken DJ, White KS (eds) Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. IPCC Working Group II. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, pp 877–912

    Google Scholar 

  • Stern NH (2007) The Economics of Climate Change: The Stern Review. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK

    Google Scholar 

  • Szlávik L, Ijjas I (2003) Action plan on flood prevention for the Tisza River, in Precautionary Flood Protection in Europe, International Workshop, 5–6 February 2003, Bonn

    Google Scholar 

  • Tàbara JD (2007) A new climate for Spain: A late accommodation of environmental foreign policy in a federal state. In: Harris P (ed) Europe and global climate change: Politics, foreign policy, and regional cooperation. Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, UK; Northampton, MA, pp 161–184

    Google Scholar 

  • Tàbara JD, Cots F, Dai X, Falaleeva M, Flachner Z, McEvoy D, Werners S (2009) Social learning on climate change among regional agent – insights from China, Eastern Europe and Iberia. In: Leal Filho W, Mannke F (eds) Interdisciplinary aspects of climate change. Peter Lang Scientific Publishers, Frankfurt, DE, pp 121–150

    Google Scholar 

  • Timmerman JG, Doze J (2005) Transboundary river basin management regimes: the Guadiana basin case study – Background report to Deliverable 1.3.1. In Report of the NeWater project – New Approaches to Adaptive Water Management under Uncertainty, Institute for Inland Water Management and Waste Water Treatment (RIZA), Osnabrück/Lelystad. www.newater.info

  • Vogel C, Moser SC, Kasperson RE, Dabelko GD (2007) Linking vulnerability, adaptation, and resilience science to practice: Pathways, players, and partnerships. Global Environmental Change 17(3–4):349–364

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weaver PM, Haxeltine A, van de Kerkhof M, Tàbara JD (2006) Mainstreaming action on climate change through participatory appraisal. Int J Innov Sustain Dev 1(3):238–259

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werners SE, Flachner Z, Matczak P, Falaleeva M, Leemans R (2009a) Exploring earth system governance: a case study of floodplain management along the Tisza River in Hungary. Global Environmental Change 19(4):503–511

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Werners SE, Matczak P, Flachner Z (2009b) The introduction of floodplain rehabilitation and rural development into the water policy for the Tisza River in Hungary. In: Huitema D, Meijerink S (eds) Water policy entrepreneurs: A research companion to water transitions around the globe. Edward Elgar Publishing, Camberley, UK; Northampton, MA

    Google Scholar 

  • West J (2009) Report on fieldwork in Bantanjing village and Luanjingtan town, Alxa League, Inner Mongolia, China, November 13–19, 2008. Center for International Climate and Environmental Research – Oslo (CICERO), Oslo, NO

    Google Scholar 

  • WWF (2003) Results overview for the Guadiana River Basin (Spain), WWF Water and Wetland Index – Critical issues in water policy across Europe. www.assets.panda.org

  • Xu Y, Huang X, Zhang Y (2005) Statistical analyses of climate change scenarios over China in the 21st century (in Chinese). Adv Clim Change Res 1:80–83

    Google Scholar 

  • Xu Y, Zhang Y, Lin E, Lin W, Dong W, Jones R, Hassell D, Wilson S (2006) Analyses on the climate change responses over China under SRES B2 scenario using PRECIS. Chin Sci Bull 51(18):2260–2267

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Yan T, Quian WY (2004) environmental migration and sustainable development in the upper reaches of the Yangtze River. Popul Environ 25(6):613–636

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

Work on this paper has been supported by a grant from the European Commission through the European research project ADAM (Adaptation and Mitigation Strategies: Supporting European climate policy, Contract No. 018476-GOCE, http://www.adamproject.eu) and from the Dutch Ministry of Agriculture, Nature Conservation, and Food Quality. We thank all interviewees and participants of the regional workshops for sharing their experience on adaptation practice. We are grateful for the valuable comments and help of research partners, especially Helene Amundsen, Marco Bindi, Maria Falaleeva, C. Fu, Zsolt Harnos, Alex Haxeltine, Levente Horváth, Mike Hulme, Francesca Incerti, Gensuo Jia, Márton Jolánkai, Marco Moriondo, István Lang, Rik Leemans, Hongtao Liu, Lorenzo Orioli, Claudia Pahl-Wostl, Anna Serra, Yanling Sun, Rob Swart, Y. Xu, and L. You.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Earth System Science – Climate Change Group, Wageningen University and Research Centre, 47, 6700 AA, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Saskia E. Werners, Jennifer West, Rik Leemans, J. David Tàbara, Xingang Dai, Zsuzsanna Flachner, Francesc Cots, Henry Neufeldt, Darryn McEvoy & Giacomo Trombi

Authors
  1. Saskia E. Werners
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Jennifer West
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Rik Leemans
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. David Tàbara
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Xingang Dai
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Zsuzsanna Flachner
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Francesc Cots
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Henry Neufeldt
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  9. Darryn McEvoy
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  10. Giacomo Trombi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Wissenschaften Hamburg, Forschungs- und Transferzentrum,, Hochschule für Angewandte, Lohbruegger Kirchstr. 65, Hamburg, 21033, Germany

    Walter Leal Filho

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2011 Springer Berlin Heidelberg

About this paper

Cite this paper

Werners, S.E. et al. (2011). Opportunities and Constraints for Climate Adaptation in Regional Water and Land Use Planning. In: Leal Filho, W. (eds) The Economic, Social and Political Elements of Climate Change. Climate Change Management. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14776-0_40

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-14776-0_40

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-14775-3

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-14776-0

  • eBook Packages: Business and EconomicsEconomics and Finance (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation