'Collective adaptation' has recently become a widely used concept in climate change science and advocacy work. Yet, the current engagement with collective adaptation suffers from a few shortcomings: While the debate has been normative for the largest part, a coherent conceptual framing and theoretical engagement have been underdeveloped, hampering the empirical assessment of the extent and patterns of collective adaptation as well as the factors that foster or hinder it. In addition, the majority of emerging empirical assessments are concerned with rather homogenous sociocultural communities, while collective adaptation in heterogeneous settings such as urban melting pots has been far less in the focus - even though the most heterogeneous neighborhoods are often those with the highest vulnerability, least resources and gravest lack of formal adaptation. Sociocultural diversity has the potential to foster resilience through integrating a multitude of perspectives but, at the same time, presents a challenge for trust-building and collaboration. The paper develops and illustrates a heuristic conceptual framework on different types of collective adaptation and their formation as well as mobilization in socioculturally diverse settings. It is meant to help guide future research and inform policy debates in what is a critical decade for climate change adaptation, particularly in an increasingly diverse world.
Wannewitz, M; Garschagen, M
Collective adaptation to climate change
Current Opinion In Environmental Sustainability