Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
the governance elements that were associated with different categories of adaptive
responses, a mixed methods analysis was conducted in MAX QDA to identify the
intersections between the different response categories and the governance related
indicators (under three broad categories of
Regime
,
Knowledge
and
Networks
) to
establish which governance mechanisms were most associated with different cate-
gories of response.
The following tables represented in Figs.
10.1
and
10.2
present the analysis and
subsequent results of this coding exercise, which show a higher concentration of
transformative and persistent adaptive responses in the Swiss case area than in the
Chilean case area. The results of the coding exercise of the adaptive responses will
be presented and discussed below, in conjunction with the governance indicators
related to them.
10.2.1
Transformative Adaptation
Transformational responses were classed as those that exhibited examples of
inno-
vation, and possibly transformation of SES into trajectories that sustain and enhance
ecosystem services, societal development and human well-being
( Folke et al.
2010
).
Transformability has also been described as the 'capacity to create a fundamentally
new system when ecological, economic, or social structure makes the existing sys-
tem untenable' (Walker et al.
2004
). Adaptive responses were coded as 'transforma-
tion' if they exhibited traits of managing for uncertainty (i.e. practices and policies
that prepare for uncertainty in context of climate change or inter-annual variability,
including unanticipated changes), or if they showed that policy makers for/and
water managers were searching for alternative governance or management practices
that integrate ecological and social consideration, or had signs of innovation and
development of new strategies that enhance ecological and social aspects as well as
economic. A full list of criteria is given in the tables in Figs.
10.1
and
10.2
, which
show that of the adaptive responses, very few exhibited characteristics of transfor-
mation. Within the Chilean case, none of the responses exhibited transformative
characteristics, while in Switzerland only the TRC and MINERVE had transforma-
tive attributes, and only the TRC could be categorised as 'transformation' (albeit
with limits).
Initially, a scoping study was conducted to assess the most vulnerable areas, in
terms of potential flooding events and damages (e.g. industrial sites and residential
zones). In addition, the concept of 'residual risk' has been applied to the scoping
studies for the project in order to meet the challenge of designing a project that
incorporates the uncertainty of climate impacts (modifications in flows) so that the
management plan can adapt to changing hydrological parameters. Engineers recog-
nised that the project would need to find a means of incorporating hydro-climatic
uncertainties to ensure that the project could statistically calculate projected levels
of flow for individual sections under climate change conditions. Engineers are cur-
rently assessing the possibility of the calculated levels of flow being exceeded, and
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