"From shared vulnerability to a common climate resilience – Comparison of adaptation case studies around the world"

All the world’s coastal zones are faced with the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. Coastal communities are vulnerable in similar ways and also often display the same adaptation reflexes. We will illustrate with... [ view full abstract ]

All the world’s coastal zones are faced with the impacts of climate change and sea level rise. Coastal communities are vulnerable in similar ways and also often display the same adaptation reflexes. We will illustrate with case studies based on our research experience in Canada (Quebec and New Brunswick), France (Britanny), Senegal (the Saloum Delta and the Petite Côte) and Benin (The Ouidah-Grand-Popo coastal segment) how vulnerability compares in those different geographical and socio-economic environments and how reactive and planned adaptation is implemented. We will also take a look at impediments to building resilience, in terms of lack of material and human resources, knowledge and monitoring capacities, social capital and governance. Interviews with respondents from all the study areas reveal that the lack of government support and leadership, difficulties stemming from repartition of responsibilities along governance scales, a knowledge deficit and a lack of adaptation tools or of the resources to use them are common difficulties of coastal communities faced with the impacts of climate change. We argue that mutual learning and experience sharing can help communities to overcome those obstacles and build stronger resilience. The research projects underlying this analysis were led by us in a perspective of participatory research or community-based research and of an interdisciplinary and cross-sectoral approach, working with different stakeholders. This university – field actor partnership accompanied communities and helped to resolve some of the problems of adaptation and favour a longer-term approach and planned rather than reactive adaptation.