Business and development: Changing discourses in the extractive industries

Research article by James Van Alstine on 1 Jun 2014

This paper identifies how organisational field dynamics have changed over time within the field of business and development. Using the extractive industries as the empirical setting, development agency policy documents and corporate reports are analysed in order to identify convergence and divergence of discourses and changing institutional logics. The business-development organisational field became structured around […]

The impact of climatic hazards on social network structure: Insights from community support networks in Western Uganda

Working paper by Rachel Berman, Claire Quinn, Jouni Paavola on 1 Jun 2014

Social support networks are considered important coping mechanisms in the literature, however not all households experience the same levels of inclusion in these networks. Understanding how support networks vary across climatic shocks is necessary to ensure that adaptation and development policies do not erode access to networks but few studies have investigated this phenomenon. We […]

Understanding the adaptation deficit: why are poor countries more vulnerable to climate events than rich countries?

Research article by Sam Fankhauser on 29 May 2014

This paper analyses the link between income and adaptation to climate events theoretically and empirically. read more »

A simple framework for the estimation of climate exposure

Working paper by Xavier Vollenweider on 29 May 2014

This article introduces a new methodology to estimate climate exposure at the household’s level with the standardized precipitation evapotranspiration index (SPEI) as its building block. As the probability distribution of … read more »

Beyond urban-rural boundaries: Encouraging inter-municipal collaboration for climate change adaptation in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

Research article by Hayley Leck on 20 May 2014

Chapter 5 in Steele,W., Alizadeh, T., Eslami-Andargoli, L., and Serrao-Neumann, S (eds) Planning Across Borders in a Climate of Change, Routledge: London.

Adaptation Planning and Implementation

Policy publication by Swenja Surminski on 26 Apr 2014

Contributing author to Chapter 15. In: Fields, C. et al. (eds.) IPCC WP2 5th Assessment Report – Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, Stanford, CA, USA. – … read more »

Strategies for improving adaptation practice in developing countries

Research article by Declan Conway on 25 Apr 2014

The international community’s support for adaptation in developing countries has proliferated through numerous complementary funding mechanisms. A range of serious practical issues are emerging, however, as adaptation moves from theory and international negotiation to implementation. We identify three areas deserving greater scrutiny: in-country priorities, entry points and delivery systems, and provide recommendations for improving adaptation practice. These concerns, if not addressed, have the potential to hamper attempts at effective delivery and to increase the vulnerability of intended beneficiaries of the adaptation agenda. read more »

Presenting Triple-Wins? Assessing Projects That Deliver Adaptation, Mitigation and Development Co-benefits in Rural Sub-Saharan Africa.