School of Geography - Theses
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ItemEnabling adaptation in theory and practice: Place-based perspectives from atoll states( 2022)Barriers to adaptation are a well-established concept in climate change research, however, research into ‘enablers’ or the conditions and factors that facilitate the process of adjusting in response to climate change is emerging. This thesis aims to understand how adaptation enablers are framed within adaptation research, selected atoll literature, and by practitioners undertaking adaptation in atoll states. Atoll states are places that are significantly affected by climate change and where adaptation is urgent. This thesis combines a targeted literature review and academic reflections on adaptation enablers with narrative-based interviews to bring together unplaced theory with grounded perspectives. It finds that there is little consensus of typologies of enablers in adaptation literature, with adaptation researchers reflecting they are broad and highlight a lack of engagement with practiced and placed adaptation. A review of atoll literature demonstrates further specificity for enabling adaptation in place, however, suggested enablers are not informed by practitioner perspectives. Finally, narrative-based interviews reveal enablers that are explained as part of a dynamic process. The results of this thesis show that while there are similarities in the definitions, typologies, and explanations of enablers across all three research questions, there are differences between the way enablers are characterised in the global adaptation literature and way they manifest in place and in practice, making the case for place-based understandings of enablers. This also suggests that more research is needed into how exclusive placed-based enablers are to atoll states.