Can resilience framing enable adaptation to a changing climate? Insights from the UK water sector
This paper investigates what resilience means in practice, which forces are driving the framing of resilience and, more importantly, what resilience means for adaptation to a changing climate. It takes adaptation as a process where responses precede frames which, in turn, are shaped by internal and external factors. The analysis identifies internal and external factors that are shaping the current framing, e.g. high self efficacy, uncertainty, regulatory framework, which are influencing actions on the ground.
Data was collected through semi-structured interviews and document analysis covering 95% of UK Water companies. Results reveal that resilience is understood as the ability to withstand impacts and continue providing a reliable service. It usually takes a stability connotation and tends to be associated with “low regret solutions” to deal with today's weather. Framing resilience in this way accommodates the UK sector’s adaptation agenda by building flexibility that will allow water companies to wait and be able to change in a ‘more certain future’.
Overall, by critically examining how the concept of resilience is being used, this paper contributes to the debate that adaptation is a process in which frames catalyse or inhibit action. It stresses the importance of setting clear heuristics when communicating climate change adaptation to help crucial sectors to face short and long term challenges.