Adaptation vs mitigation Commonalities and differences in participatory knowledge management Ulrich Mans PhD Candidate

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation Resilient Cities 2010 – quotes on adaptation “…action at the local level” “resilience does not presume that we can prevent disaster” “…it is basically risk management” “a sustainable transport system doesn’t help dealing with a cyclone…” “adaptation is defensive” “…you think about here and now and then think about more long- term issues”

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation Question …what is the relationship between adaptation, resilience and mitigation…? …and what are consequences for inclusive action…?

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation Participation in renewable energy policies: main actors Mitigation: Cape Town Participation local governmentXX local communitiesx sector organisationsx private sectorX national ministriesx knowledge institutionsXX donorsXX regulatory agenciesX consultantsXXX

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation Participation in adaptation: main actors AdaptationMitigation: Cape Town Participation local governmentXXX local communitiesXXXx sector organisationsXx private sectorxX national ministriesxx knowledge institutionsxXX donorsxXX regulatory agenciesoX consultantsXXXX

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation Knowledge AdaptationMitigation Knowledge practice-orientedXXXx policy-orientedXXX collective competenceXXo

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation Comparing key aspects AdaptationMitigation type processchangetransition institutional focusmechanismssystems main driversagentsstructures needed interactioncommunity-urbanurban-national-international spatial scopespecificcomprehensive timing horizonshort-termlong-term

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation A conceptual view long-term abstract knowledge operational knowledge short-term

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation A conceptual view long-term abstract knowledge operational knowledge short-term adaptation – mitigation continuum

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation A conceptual view long-term abstract knowledge operational knowledge short-term “the greater the urgency, the greater the need for operational knowledge” adaptation – mitigation continuum

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation P olicy dilemma: “distance to causality” AdaptationMitigation type processchangetransition institutional focusmechanismssystem main driversagentsstructures needed interactioncommunity-urbanurban-national-international spatial scopespecificcomprehensive timing horizonshort-termlong-term policy-approachresponseprevention

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation Financing paradox…? …while financing prevention is often considered more difficult to finance than response, it seems that adaptation is linked to costs; and mitigation with investment opportunities…

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation Discussion …if the continuum indeed moves along this line, when and how can we merge curren tpractices in participatory knowledge management for both adaptation and mitigation…?

Resilient Cities Adaptation vs mitigation Discussion …if the continuum indeed moves along this line, when and how can we merge current practices in participatory knowledge management for both adaptation and mitigation…? for example: stakeholders to define resettlement plans for location X = stakeholders for defining urban design for new settlement Y?

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