Heikkila, T and Gerlak, A.K. and Bell, A.R. and Schmeier, S (2013) Adaptation in a transboundary river basin: Linking stressors and adaptive capacity within the Mekong River Commission. Environmental Science & Policy, 25. pp. 73-82.
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Abstract
River basin organizations serve as potential forums to promote adaptation to environmental change in transboundary river basins. Yet how these organizations adapt is an understudied area of the literature. We explore and compare four examples of adaptation within the Mekong River Commission (MRC), focusing on how the nature of stressors shapes adaptation responses. We measure adaptation responses in terms of adaptive capacity, which includes technical, institutional, social and financial capacity. We find that the uncertainty of the impact of stressors plays a role in shaping the extent of adaptive capacity. We also find that the adaptive response may depend on a river basin organization's pre-existing capacity to address the stressor. Finally, our research suggests that investments in new capacity can create a feedback mechanism that helps reduce uncertainty and foster further adaptation.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | The authors recognize the National Science Foundation’s Coupled Natural and Human Systems Program (GEO 09-08971) for supporting the data collection, data analysis and preparation of this paper. |
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | Adaptation; River basin organization; Adaptive capacity; Climate change; Flooding; Hydropower |
| Author Affiliation: | University of Colorado Denver, 1380 Lawrence Street, Suite 500, P.O. Box 17364, Denver, CO 80217, United States |
| Subjects: | Environmental Science > Natural Resources |
| Divisions: | General |
| Depositing User: | Mr Balakrishna Garadasu |
| Date Deposited: | 30 May 2013 06:14 |
| Last Modified: | 30 May 2013 06:14 |
| Official URL: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2012.09.013 |
| URI: | http://eprints.icrisat.ac.in/id/eprint/10652 |
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