Transnationalization of climate adaptation by regional governments and the RegionsAdapt initiative

• Published in: Global sustainability Vol. 3
• Main Authors: Setzer, Joana, Sainz de Murieta, Elisa, Galarraga, Ibon, Rei, Fernando, Pinho, Mariângela Mendes Lomba
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cambridge Cambridge University Press 2020
• Subjects: Adaptation; Agglomeration; Climate action; Climate adaptation; Climate change; Climate change mitigation; Collaboration; Global climate; Initiatives; Local government; paradiplomacy; Paris Agreement; Regional government; Regions; RegionsAdapt initiative; subnational climate policy; Tracking; transnational climate action; Transnationalism; Visibility; United States > US; California
• ISSN: 2059-4798; 2059-4798
• DOI: 10.1017/sus.2020.6

Non-technical summary
Adaptation to climate change has traditionally been framed as a local problem. However, in recent years, adaptation has risen on the global policy agenda. This article contributes to the study of transnational climate adaptation through an investigation of international connectivity on climate adaptation between regional policy-makers. We examine the RegionsAdapt initiative, the first global commitment to promote and track the progress of regional adaptation. While adapting to climate change at the regional level is crucial, we suggest that transnational adaptation governance not only helps to promote adaptation measures, but also improves the process of tracking the progress of such action, its visibility and its aggregation.
Technical summary
Adaptation to climate change has traditionally been framed as a local problem. However, in recent years, and particularly since the 2015 Paris Agreement established a global goal on adaptation, adaptation has risen on the global policy agenda. This article investigates the transnationalization of climate adaptation by regional governments. In contrast to the transnational dimension of climate mitigation, the transnationalization of adaptation governance is incipient and has received scarce academic attention. We examine the RegionsAdapt initiative, the first global commitment to support and report on adaptation efforts at the state and regional level. The initiative aims to promote regional climate adaptation, as well as to improve reporting of adaptation action. Drawing upon the three key elements that characterize the transnationalization of adaptation governance, we explore the scope, institutionalization and structure of this initiative. While the implementation of adaptation measures is largely the responsibility of regional and local governments and communities, we argue that transnational adaptation governance not only helps to promote adaptation measures, but also improves the process of tracking the progress of such action, its visibility and its aggregation. We suggest that incorporating adaptation into platforms such as the Global Climate Action portal would motivate further mobilization and accountability of adaptation action.