An analysis of the potential limitation to climate change adaptation planning (case study: coastal areas of Iran)

Climate change adaptation (CCA) planning is an iterative process involving numerous actors and institutions at multiple levels of governance. These actors often have different priorities, goals, needs, and resources, which may be a barrier in risk governance and collaborative decision making. This study investigates the influence of cross-scalar differences on adaptation through variations in support for adaptation planning, motivational factors, adaptation choices, and the desired role for the province in supporting adaptation. The analysis is based on 128 questionnaires from coastal planners (local, province, and NGO) across in Boushehr, Hormozgan, and Sisitan va Baluchestan. Investigating the status of adaptation planning as a process revealed a much broader engagement than indicated by existing databases. The majority of participants involved in adaptation planning are mainstreaming climate concerns into existing processes, rather than developing independent plans. Significant cross-scalar differences were detected across levels of management and study areas. Local planners exhibited significantly lower support (p ≤ 0.01) for the development of local-level CCA plans and for the allocation of human and financial resources for the implementation of CCA plans than province and NGO planners. Approximately half of the factors motivating the development of CCA plans were significantly different for NGOs compared to local and province planners (p ≤ 0.10). These differences, in addition to differences in adaptation choices and the desired role of the province in adaptation planning, represent potential barriers to CCA.

Keywords:

climate change adaptation , planning , coastal areas , Iran