Articles | Volume 78, issue 3
https://doi.org/10.5194/gh-78-369-2023
https://doi.org/10.5194/gh-78-369-2023
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03 Aug 2023
Standard article |  | 03 Aug 2023

Intentionality and visibility in state- and society-led climate approaches: towards a more comprehensive understanding of local adaptation initiatives

Peter Eckersley, Wolfgang Haupt, Viviana Wiegleb, Jens Niewind, and Antje Otto

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Cited articles

Araos, M., Berrang-Ford, L., Ford, J. D., Austin, S. E., Biesbroek, R., and Lesnikowski, A.: Climate change adaptation planning in large cities: A systematic global assessment, Environ. Sci. Policy, 66, 375–382, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2016.06.009, 2016. 
Bajec, N. L. and Maruna, M.: Planned and autonomous actions: Belgrade waterfront adaptation to climate change, Environ. Eng. Manage. J., 14, 1–10, https://doi.org/10.30638/eemj.2015.001, 2013. 
Bawakyillenuo, S., Yaro, J. A., and Teye, J.: Exploring the autonomous adaptation strategies to climate change and climate variability in selected villages in the rural northern savannah zone of Ghana, Local Environ., 21, 361–382, https://doi.org/10.1080/13549839.2014.965671, 2016. 
Buschmann, D., Koziol, K., Bausch, T., and Reinhard, S.: Adaptation to climate change in small German municipalities: Sparse knowledge and weak adaptive capacities, Nat. Resour. Forum, 46, 377–392, https://doi.org/10.1111/1477-8947.12262, 2022. 
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Short summary
Research into climate adaptation may neglect activities that are (1) not undertaken by government bodies, (2) not designed specifically to reduce the potential impact of climate threats and/or (3) not labelled explicitly as adaptation. We present a framework to examine these under-explored initiatives and draw on two studies of municipalities and small businesses in Germany to highlight various activities that contribute to climate resilience but are largely unintentional and/or hidden.
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