Transformational adaptation: what it is, why it matters and what is needed

This report offers, for practitioners and researchers alike, a timely, comprehensive and insightful overview of the literature on transformational adaptation. It draws from the literature to create an ambitious skills-based framework for more effective transformative action in the context of climatic hazards, with a focus on the practice implications, as a starting point for exploring what is required to move transformation from an attractive concept to something more tangible and policy-relevant.

Drawing upon recent literature on transformation and climate adaptation and reflecting upon a recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) conference (University of Oslo, 2013) and a workshop on transformational adaptation UKCIP organised in March 2015 for practitioners and academics, the paper considers whether transformational adaptation is simply a means of categorising the nature of our response to climate change risks, or has potential to provide practical tools for more effective adaptation.

The report is published at a time of unprecedented global attention on climatic hazards and societal vulnerability. There is a desire and urgent need to move from reactive, costly clean up and rebuilding to risk management and proactive action. With the approaching United Nations Climate Change Conference, due to be held in Paris, France, in December 2015, there is a global opportunity space for critical reflection of current practice and proactive, evidence-based dialogue and knowledge exchange between scientists, policymakers and practitioners.