Ariadna Anisimov (University of Antwerp)

Climate change adaptation: A climate justice imperative

Abstract. Despite some indication of increasing awareness about climate change, there are major governance challenges  to making adaptation a priority for policy-, decision-makers. These include political willingness, economic appraisal and perception of the risk as in the distant future. Even more, how to decide on adaptation projects at the local level are complex – involving different knowledge systems, values and trade-offs. Decisions can also create winners and losers. Moreover, although many adaptation projects are financed by international development actors, local voices and visions of the future are missing from higher levels of adaptation policy and implementation.