Integrated Climate Risk and Adaptation Assessment

: Engaging with Participation and Co-production to Inform Island Community Decision-Making

Abstract

Small islands face specific challenges, such as limited land area, limited resource bases, low connectivity, and reliance on external trade, which can influence the impact of climate- related risks. Due to small islands' diverse biophysical, socio-economic, political, and cultural characteristics, adaptation strategies need to be tailored to each location and context. At the same time, small island communities commonly face obstacles in their ability to engage in research and planning, which challenge the implementation of adaptation plans. Participation and co-production are being explored to involve adaptation stakeholders in research. However, the limited application of such efforts in Scottish islands highlights gaps in understanding the conditions and processes required to conduct them appropriately and effectively.

Against this backdrop, the present study explored the creation of a novel framework for conducting climate risk and adaptation assessments, with small islands in Scotland – namely Tiree, Barra, and Vatersay – selected as case examples, both informing the design of the framework and its implementation. The framework involved multiple assessment-related methods and approaches, labelled as either ‘bottom-up’ or ‘top- down’ in their orientation, with a novel feature being the study’s recourse to the literature on participation and co-production. Shuttling between efforts to integrate information emanating from both methods and approaches was driven by a quest to re-configure conventional ways of conducting stakeholder-based climate research and planning, ultimately enhancing the usability of research and planning.

Overall, the assessment provided insights on key climate impacts and risks facing the study communities, and on developing appropriate responses to enhance adaptation pathways. Study implications include the need for new practices and modes of adaptation planning involving participatory, integrated, and transformational approaches that encompass social, ecological, economic, and political domains. Such innovations would benefit communities and researchers beyond the immediate small Scottish island context.

Date of Award	2024
Original language	English
Awarding Institution	University of Dundee
Supervisor	Alistair Geddes (Supervisor), Alexandre S. Gagnon (Supervisor) & Kathryn Burnett (Supervisor)