adaptation discourses and modes of governance in swiss alpine regions

Adaptation Discourses and Modes of Governance in Swiss Alpine Regions

Alexander Widmer & Christian HirschiSymposium “The Governance of Adaptation”, Amsterdam, 22/23 March 2012

2

Introduction

Adaptation only very recently in industrialized countries Most have now developed a NAS

Switzerland NAS (part 1): March 2nd 2012 Implementation and compulsory measures are rare; mostly:

assessment reports strategic considerations initiation and report of research activities

Subnational adaptation activities (despite the lack of NAS) E.g. six regional adaptation strategies in Switzerland, and some by larger

cities

23 March 2012 Symposium “The Governance of Adaptation”, Amsterdam, 22/23 March 2012

3Symposium “The Governance of Adaptation”, Amsterdam, 22/23 March 2012

The Swiss context (1/2) 1989: Interdepartmental working group 1994: Two reports on climate change addressing mitigation and

adaptation: Impacts expected on forestry, agriculture, water, natural hazards, health,

migration and winter tourism Impacts are mainly expected in mountain regions No further measures outlined

1996: OcCC (Advisory Body on Climate Change) Scientific, coordinative, and consultative mandate Summaries of the IPCC reports, specific reports on heavy precipitation

(1998), heavy droughts (2002), extreme events (2003), heat waves (2005), impacts on socio-economic sectors (2007)

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The Swiss context (2/2)

2009: Decision of the Swiss Federal Council (nat. government) to asses climate risks and to develop a NAS interdepartmental working group and sectoral working groups are

established 2012: On March 2nd the first part (goals, challenges, fields of

activity) of the Swiss NAS was approved by the Federal Council 2013: Part 2 (specific measures and action plan) is scheduled for

late 2013

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Regional adaptation measures

Regional differences with respect to ecological, economic, and social conditions: adaptation as a policy to be implemented on the regional level.

Questions of multi-level governance: interplay and role of different levels in adaptation policy

Despite the absence of a NAS some adaptation activities on the regional level in Switzerland

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Research questions

What climate adaptation measures have been discussed or adapted in Swiss mountain regions over the period 2001-2011?

What developments put the issue of climate change on the political agenda of the relevant political bodies in the regions?

What are the predominant modes of governance in those adaptation activities and how do they differ from traditional approaches to mitigate negative environmental impacts on society in those regions?

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Database on adaptation activities in the Swiss alpine regions

Context: MOUNTLAND project Focus on mountain areas Three regions: Grisons, Vaud, and Valais Different ecosystem services and land-use patterns but also different

political-institutional settings Varying sensibilities to changing climate conditions

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Regional (cantonal) adaptation activities

Every activity explicitly aiming at adjustments in natural or human systems

In response to actual or expected climate stimuli or their effects To moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities Initiated by cantonal public authorities as such as cantonal

governments, public administrations, and legislative bodies (parliaments)

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Variables (1)

Policy process related variables: durability (permanent, temporary) policy level (strategy, program, project, measure, instrument) current status in the policy process (problem definition, agenda-setting,

formulation, decision-making, implementation) Sectors and goals

addressed sector(s) scope and policy goals: bear losses, share losses, modify threat, prevent

effects, change use, change location, research, encourage behavioral change (IPCC 2001).

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Variables (2)

Actors: political body in charge (cantonal government, administration, parliament) final legally binging responsibility (cantonal government, administration,

parliament, citizens) main target population (civil society, economy/industry, scientific

community, international actors, federation, communities, cantonal government, cantonal parliament, cantonal courts, residual category)

Policy instruments applied Instrument (information, subsidies, taxes…) (Howlett et al. 1995) State involvement (voluntary, mixed, compulsory)

Present a selection of our results

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Agenda setting

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Policy sectors (overall)

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Biodiversity13%

Forestry8%

Agriculture9%

Tourism22%

Energy3%

Water14%

Natural Hazards32%


Policy sectors (cantons)

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Biodiversity11% Forestry

3%Agriculture

6%

Tourism19%

Energy3%Water

14%

Natural Hazards

44%

Sectors VSBiodiversity

5% Forestry5%

Agriculture13%

Tourism15%

Energy4%

Water22%

Natural Hazards36%

Sectors GR

Biodiversity20%

Forestry13%

Agriculture7%Tourism

28%

Energy3%

Water7%

Natural Hazards

23%

Sectors VD


Adaptation activities in the three cantons

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Family

/Com

munity

Volunta

ry Orga

nizati

on

Private

Mark

ets

Inform

ation

/Exh

ortati

on

Subsid

ies

Auctio

n of P

ropert

y Righ

ts

Taxes

/Use

r Cha

rges

Regula

tion

Public

Ente

rprise

Direct

Provisi

on0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

GRVDVSTotal


Level of state involvement

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GR VD VS Total0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

VoluntaryMixedCompulsory


Actors (1): Addressees of adaptation activities

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GR VD VS Total0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

othersCantonal judiciary (Courts)Cantonal legislative (Parliament)Cantonal Exekutive (Government and Admin-istration)CommunitiesFederationInternationalScienceBusiness/EconomyGeneral Public


Actors (2): Political body in charge

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GR VD VS Total0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

AdministrationParliamentGovernment


Actors (3): Final responsibility

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GR VD VS Total0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

100%

People (Referendum)AdministrationParliamentGovernment


Discussion (1)

Agenda setting Climate change adaptation on the national agenda only very recently Mountain regions versed in adapting to changing climate conditions Adaptation is in particularly challenging where behavioral change is

needed and no technical solutions are at hand

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Discussion (2)

Modes of governance Adaptation activities are dominated by ‘soft’, information-based activities. The dominance of mixed mode of state-involvement might be misleading

as it concentrates on research mandates or information provision rather than cooperative and participative activities connected to a networked mode of political steering.

This is also reflected in the very limited involvement of stakeholders so far.

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Conclusion

Some adaptation activities have been integrated in areas such as natural hazard which are traditionally dominated by the administration.

The new national adaptation strategy will set an important framework also for cantonal adaptation activities and is likely to impact future ‘modes of governance’.

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Thank you for your attention!

Acknowledgments:Supported by the Competence Center Environment and Sustainability of the ETH domain.

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adaptation discourses and modes of governance in swiss alpine regions

Documents

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adaptation policydespite

regional adaptation

swiss mountain regions

swiss nas

climate conditions

pepethe swiss context

climate changescientific