Recent research suggests that race and ethnicity influence post-buyout land management in Harris County, Texas, yet lacked systematic empirical evidence to fully understand the relationship between management and demographics. To address this gap, this study analyzes post-buyout land use management practices and compares them with the socio-economic characteristics of the adjacent neighborhood at the block level in Harris County, Texas, an area with a long buyout history. I first identified post-buyout land use management practices in Harris County through county records and photo documentation of approximately 2000 buyout sites through fieldwork from 2017-2022. Second, using Ode and colleagues' framework for identifying visual characteristics on the landscape, I developed an index and evaluated post-buyout land use management practices for aesthetics, utility, and function. Finally, I spatially analyzed the socio-demographic composition of buyout neighborhoods using U.S. Census American Community Survey 5-year data (2017-2021) and compared it with post-buyout land use management practices in ArcGIS. From this spatial analysis, I identified differences in post-buyout land management that homeownership status, race, and ethnicity affected post-buyout land management. Most buyout properties in Harris County are managed as mowed, vacant lots regardless of socio-demographics; however, litter and debris were more prominent in predominantly Black neighborhoods. Of note, higher utility land uses were more frequent in predominantly white neighborhoods, but buyout sites developed into parks were located in lower-income and predominantly Hispanic areas suggesting variance in land use by socio-demographics.

There are a disproportionate distribution of impacts and benefits in climate adaptation work. We can see both differences in vulnerability between different socio-economic groups and geographical location, as discussed in the climate justice field. Developing countries are countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change, and indigenous peoples are a group that is among the most vulnerable to its impacts, although both contribute least to climate change. Indigenous peoples also gain essential knowledge as they have successfully adapted to environmental changes for tens of thousands of years, but are excluded from current adaptation efforts. Previous studies have focused on case studies with in-depth analyses on the specific case. What I have not been able to find is a systematic overview of indigenous peoples in developing countries regarding justice in climate adaptation work. Therefore, my aim is to empirically describe if and how indigenous peoples’ perspectives are represented in developing countries’ national adaptation plans. I do this by using a climate justice index that I modify to suit my study's ambition where four dimensions of justice are analysed: recognitional, distributive, procedural, and restorative. This study finds variation across both countries and dimensions in terms of indigenous peoples‘ representation in the plans.

Prior research has concluded that climate change is having an overall negative impact on rice production worldwide. The vast majority of climate change impacts on rice production result from fluctuations in precipitation and temperature, which lead to flooding, water scarcity, and increases in insects and pests, diseases, and weeds. As a small developing country, Guyana is highly vulnerable to climate change despite its insignificant contribution to global warming. Guyana heavily relies on rice cultivation for food, employment, and export earnings. While generally increasing, rice yields have fluctuated over the last two decades. For example, in 2016, rice yields declined by 12.7 percent due to a drought. This dissertation explores the relationship between fluctuating yields and climate change, and how farmers are adapting. Of particular importance are the impacts of climate change on small farmers (those cultivating less than 4.45 hectares or 11 acres) and their ability to successfully adapt. Small farmers are especially vulnerable to a changing climate because they often lack the necessary knowledge, support, and resources to effectively respond and adapt. Given the large percentage of rice farmers engaging in small-scale production in Guyana, this study investigates the impacts of climate variability on rice production and the extent to which the production and productivity of small farmers are affected. It also identifies the coping strategies small farmers employ to combat the effects of climate change and the extent to which these strategies are successful. Given that climate change is expected to vary across different regions of the world, the first aim of this study is to show how the climate in Guyana has changed. At the country level, evidence from descriptive statistics, a linear trend model, and a two-sample t-test shows that minimum and maximum temperatures have increased over the last 111 years. The aggregate data is less clear on changes in precipitation over the last 111 years. However, analysis of farm-level data provides strong evidence of shifts in rainfall patterns. Among 189 small farmers interviewed, 182 (96.3%) perceived changes in rainfall patterns, 170 (89.9%) perceived changes in temperature, 169 (89.4%) perceived changes in extreme weather events, 185 (97.9%) perceived changes in insects and pests, 73 (38.6%) perceived changes in diseases, and 168 (88.9%) perceived changes in weeds. Changes in precipitation have included an increase in intensity and out of season rainfall, which has impacted harvesting due to poor dams, wet fields, and the lodging of plants. The primary responses farmers have adopted include adjusting planting dates based on water availability and the cultivation of different rice varieties. Changes in temperature have resulted in hotter days, accelerating the evaporation of water from fields. In response, farmers replenish water in their fields, when available. Excess rainfall and resulting flooding, drought, and heavy winds have been the primary extreme weather events observed. Excess rainfall and associated flooding submerges, uproots, and/or kills young plants. The lodging of plants due to heavy winds and flooding has been the main impact. In response to flooding, farmers have pumped water out of their fields. There is very little that farmers can do in response to heavy winds. The primary change in insects and pests reported by farmers has been an increase in paddy bug infestations, which cause damage to the grains resulting in lower quality and quantity at harvest. As a result, farmers are engaging in more preventative spraying. An increase in brown spot disease was also reported. Brown spots are primarily found on the leaves, damaging and/or stunting the growth of the plants by reducing the amount of food they manufacture through photosynthesis. Farmers have responded by engaging in preventative spraying and the rotation of fungicides. Increases in red rice and duckweed have been the major changes in weeds observed. Both weeds compete with rice for space, sunlight, nutrients, and water. Additionally, red rice reduces the quality and by extension the price farmers receive. Farmers are responding by spraying more herbicide and using a contact chemical to burn red rice. Multivariate analysis of farm-level data found that land tenure, tractor ownership, membership in an agricultural organization(s), secondary non-agricultural income, and farms located in regions two and four have positive correlations with annual yields. Perceived changes in rainfall, farm size, livestock ownership, participation in rice extension training, and household members help with rice farming were found to have negative correlations with annual yields. Policy recommendations to improve rice production and farmers' resilience include improving research and development capacity; tax exemption for agricultural inputs and equipment; improving extension services; improving the management of irrigation systems and water resources; enhanced access to credit, insurance, and subsidies; improving weather forecasting and climate monitoring; and improving the management of drainage infrastructure. The analytical framework used in this research produced a rich dataset and interesting results that are important to our understanding of farm-level impacts and responses to climate change. As such, it may prove useful for studying climate change impacts in other developing countries that have similar characteristics and face similar risks from climate change as Guyana. / Doctor of Philosophy / The vast majority of climate change impacts on rice production result from variations in rainfall and temperature that lead to flooding, water shortage, and increases in insects and pests, diseases, and weeds. Guyana is highly exposed to climate change. More importantly, the country relies heavily on rice farming for food, employment, and foreign income. Of particular importance are the impacts of climate change on small farmers (growing less than 4.45 hectares) and their ability to successfully adapt. Small farmers are especially helpless because they often lack the necessary knowledge, support, and resources to effectively respond and adapt. Given the large percentage of rice farmers engaged in small-scale production in Guyana, this study explores the impacts of climate variability on rice production and the extent to which the production and output of small farmers are affected. Analysis of farm-level data shows that changes in rainfall have included an increase in intensity and out of season rainfall which has affected harvesting due to poor farm-to market roads, wet fields, and lodging of plants. The main responses involved adjusting planting dates based on water availability and the cultivation of different rice varieties. Changes in temperature resulted in hotter days which increased the loss of water from the field. In response, farmers replenish water in their fields, when available. Excess rainfall and resulting flooding, drought, and heavy winds have been the main extreme weather events observed. Excess rainfall and associated flooding submerges, uproots, and/or kills young plants. The lodging of plants due to heavy winds and flooding has been the main impact. In response to flooding, farmers have pumped water out of their fields. There is very little that farmers can do in response to heavy winds. An increase in paddy bug infestations damaged the grains resulting in lower grain quality while an increase in red rice and duckweed increased the competition for space, sunlight, nutrients, and water. Farmers engaged in more defensive spraying and used a contact chemical to burn red rice.

No / This evidence review was commissioned as part of the Joint Research Programme project ‘Working Together to Adapt to a Changing Climate: Flood and Coast’ (2018 to 2021). The project is a response to concerns about the impacts of climate change and the likelihood of significantly higher levels of risk to communities due to increased flooding (including inland) or coastal erosion. It aims to produce new learning about, and enhanced guidance for, community engagement practice in situations where this might be particularly challenging, for example, in situations where there is a low likelihood of building or maintaining flood defences in the medium to long term. / Environment Agency / The publisher requests that no file be uploaded. However, the latest version of the full file is available on the Government website on the link above.

I denna studie undersöktes i vilken utsträckning klimatanpassningar genomförs i Skånes kommunala skogar. En innehållsanalys av strategiska dokument utfördes med utgångspunkt från Skogsstyrelsens klimatanpassningsförslag. För att identifiera eventuella hinder för klimatanpassning genomfördes intervjuer med tre olika kommuner. Endast två av 28 kommuner hade ett uttalat mål att klimatanpassa det kommunala skogsinnehavet. Trots det identifierades flera av Skogsstyrelsens klimatanpassningsförslag i de strategiska dokumenten, främst motiverade utifrån kommunernas rekreations- och naturvårdsmål. De vanligaste klimatanpassningarna var att utveckla hänsynsåtgärder för biologisk mångfald, att anpassa hyggesstorleken, att eftersträva variation i skogen samt att skapa stormtålig skog. Klimatanpassningsförslag som inte kunde identifieras var att undvika att överhålla granskog, att stubbehandla mot rotröta samt att bygga och underhålla skogsbilvägar bättre anpassade för mildare vintrar.   De intervjuade kommunerna kunde inte se några större hinder för klimatanpassning i de kommunala skogarna, men svårigheter finns relaterade till skogens långa omloppstider i kombination med de osäkerheter som klimatförändringarna medför.

För att möta kommande klimatförändringar behövs klimatanpassning vilket innebär att skydda samhället mot klimatförändringarna och ta tillvara eventuella möjligheter. Olika länder har tillämpat olika sätt att styra anpassning, vilka generellt kan delas in i top-down och bottom-up styrning. Dessa styrformer generar olika problem och möjligheter för implementering. Till exempel så brister ofta styrning genom top-down implementeringen på lokal nivå, medan bottom-up ofta försvåras av att lokala aktörer saknar resurser i implementering. I denna litteratur och dokumentsbaserade studie undersöker vi aktuell forskning och policydokument för att med stöd av Environmental Governance-teorin, klargöra styrningsformernas uppbyggnad, effektivitet, problem och möjligheter. Länderna Sverige, Finland och Holland är i fokus då de tillämpar olika styrformer och har kommit relativt långt i implementeringen av klimatanpassning. Resultaten visar bland annat att en kombinerad modell där båda styrformerna används är den bästa för att styra klimatanpassning. Det finns också skillnader, top-down tenderar att sakna tydliga riktlinjer från nationell nivå, medan bottom-up ofta är drabbat av brist på ekonomiska resurser, styrmedel och informationsmedel. Men styrformerna har även likheter som problem med att inkludera privata aktörer i implementering av anpassning. / In order to manage anticipated effects from future climate change, adaptation is needed. Which implies protecting society against risks and take advantage of possible new opportunities. Different countries, are using different methods to steer adaptation, which generally can be described the top-down and bottom-up approaches. However, there are different problems and opportunities with those arrangements. For example, control through top-down is often weak in implementation at local level, while on the other hand local actors in the bottom-up system often lacks resources to carry out implementation. In this literature- and document study, we examine current research and policy document with the support of the Environmental Governance theory, in order to clarify the structure, effectiveness, problems and opportunities of this steering approaches for the implementation of adaptation. The countries Sweden, Finland and Netherlands, were selected as case countries since they have chosen different approaches and have relatively developed climate adaptation systems. The results show, among other things, that a combined model in which both control methods are used is the best model to guide adaptation. There are also differences, top-down tend to lack clear guidelines from the national level, despite the national plans, while the bottom-up system often is affected by lack of financial resources, instruments and information resources. But those arrangements also have similarities, such as problems with the inclusion of private actors in the implementation of adaptation.

Översvämningar är ett stort globalt problem som förväntas bli allt mer frekventa. Syftet med denna studie är att utreda hur klimatanpassningsarbetet kring översvämningsrisker hanteras på lokal nivå, i detta fall i Halmstad kommun. Syftet menar också att jämföra beskrivningen av hur arbetet bedrivs i praktiken med teori och tidigare forskning. Frågeställningarna som ska besvara syftet är om hur Halmstad kommun beskriver dess arbete och vad det finns för förklaring till detta samt hur detta kan tolkas och förklaras utifrån forskningsteoretiska begrepp ‘evidens’ och ‘urban resiliens’.   Studien har utförts som en kvalitativ fallstudie genom en intervju med kommunal tjänsteperson och innehållsanalys av styrdokument relevanta för kommunens klimatanpassningsarbete. Det teoretiska ramverket består av begreppen ‘resiliens’ och ‘evidens’ som förklaras med en sammankopplad figur. Studiens resultat visar att klimatanpassningsarbetet är komplext då flera aspekter måste avvägas men Halmstad kommun är välutvecklade inom frågan främst då de är en resursrik kommun. / Flooding is a global issue that’s becoming more frequent. This study means to investigate how climate adaptation may be managed on a local level, by performing a case study of Halmstad municipality. We mean to investigate and compare how the work is described in practice and theory. This will be done by answering questions on how the municipality describes their work, how it can be explained and how it can be interpreted in the context of the theoretical concepts' ‘evidence’ and ‘urban resilience’.  The study is based on qualitative methods, an interview and content analyses of strategic documents. The theory consists of the terms ‘resilience’ and ‘evidence’ that are interpreted with an explanatory figure.  The studies' result highlights the complexity of climate adaptation since many aspects of climate risk must be acknowledged. Halmstad can, however, be considered developed in this area which is explained by the resources at their disposal.

Krympande kommuner har ett begränsat skatteunderlag som innebär att de måste göra prioriteringar mellan olika intressen. Syftet med denna uppsats är därmed att undersöka vilka förutsättningar krympande kommuner har att genomföra klimatanpassningsarbete för att förstå hur de prioriterar sina resurser. Uppsatsen baseras primärt på en intervjustudie där vi har genomfört intervjuer med personer från Valdemarsviks och Ydre kommun, Länsstyrelsen Östergötland och SMHI. Vi utgick huvudsakligen från de teoretiska begreppen; tillväxtnorm, klimatanpassningsbehov, resurskoordinering och asymmetrisk ansvarsfördelning. Vi diskuterar hur det är ett problem att kommunerna har samma uppdrag men olika förutsättningar att genomföra dessa där det inte finns något system för att hantera denna skillnad. Vi presenterar asymmetrisk ansvarsfördelning som en potentiell lösning på detta problem. Vår främsta slutsats är hur kommunernas existensberättigande måste prioriteras framför satsningar inom klimatanpassning. / Due to shrinking municipalities having fewer resources they have to prioritise between interests. The aim of this thesis is to explore what opportunities shrinking municipalities have to implement climate adaptation in order to understand their resource prioritisation.We have conducted interviews with Valdemarsviks and Ydre municipality, Länsstyrelsen Östergötland, and SMHI. This study is based on the theoretical concepts; ‘growth norm’, ‘need for climate adaptation’, ‘resource coordination’, and ‘asymmetrical allocation of responsibilities’. We discuss the problem of municipalities having the same responsibilities but different amounts of resources to execute them. Together with a lack of system to manage this difference this creates a problem. We present asymmetrical allocation of responsibilities as a solution to this problem. Our main conclusions refer to municipalities’ strive to sustain a justification for their existence which leads to them prioritising this over climate adaptation.

abstract: Climate adaptation has not kept pace with climate impacts which has formed an adaptation gap. Increasingly insurance is viewed as a solution to close this gap. However, the efficacy and implications of using insurance in the climate adaptation space are not clear. Furthermore, past research has focused on specific actors or processes, not on the interactions and interconnections between the actors and the processes. I take a complex adaptive systems approach to map out how these dynamics are shaping adaptation and to interrogate what the insurance climate adaptation literature claims are the successes and pitfalls of insurance driving, enabling or being adaptation. From this interrogation it becomes apparent that insurance has enormous influence on its policy holders, builds telecoupling into local adaptation, and creates structures which support contradictory land use policies at the local level. Based on the influence insurance has on policy holders, I argue that insurance should be viewed as a form of governance. I synthesize insurance, governance and adaptation literature to examine exactly what governance tools insurance uses to exercise this influence and what the consequences may be. This research reveals that insurance may not be the exemplary adaptation approach the international community is hoping for. Using insurance, risk can be reduced without reducing vulnerability, and risk transfer can result in risk displacement which can reduce adaptation incentives, fuel maladaptation, or impose public burdens. Moreover, insurance requires certain information and legal relationships which can and often do structure that which is insured to the needs of insurance and shift authority away from governments to insurance companies or public-private partnerships. Each of these undermine the legitimacy of insurance-led local adaptation and contradict the stated social justice goals of international calls for insurance. Finally, I interrogate the potential justice concerns that emerged through an analysis of insurance as a form of adaptation governance. Using a multi-valent approach to justice I examine a suite of programs intended to support agricultural adaptation through insurance. This analysis demonstrates that although some programs clearly attempted to consider issues of justice, overall these existing programs raise distributional, procedural and recognition justice concerns. / Dissertation/Thesis / Doctoral Dissertation Sustainability 2020

Narragansett Bay, Rhode Island, is a valuable natural resource that suffers summer hypoxic events resulting from over a century of cultural eutrophication. Current efforts to reduce nitrogen loading from wastewater treatment facilities discharging into the Bay and its tributaries hold the promise of working towards ecological restoration. But, the efficacy of these efforts may be limited, or undone, if future changes in climate or land use increase nutrient and sediment loads to the Bay. This study developed a SWAT model of the upper Narragansett Bay watershed to simulate water quantity and quality. The baseline model was calibrated and validated to accurately reflect watershed behavior. I then used the model to simulate water quantity and quality under an altered climate, with an IPCC projected increase in temperature of 3°C and a 10% increase in precipitation by 2080. A second scenario incorporated projected 2080 land use in the absence of climate change. The third scenario combined the climate change and land use change alterations to examine cumulative impacts. A comparison of scenario outputs against the baseline simulation highlighted the expected impacts climate change and land use change will have on the watershed. Both climate change and land use change demonstrated impacts on surface runoff, water yield, PET and ET, streamflow, and loading of sediment, organic N, organic P and nitrate. Climate impacts were much greater than land use impacts, but land use impacts displayed greater regional variation. The results of the combined simulation indicate that future climate and land use change will likely negatively impact the Bay and undermine current efforts at restoration. However, the results also highlight the potential to utilize land use to mitigate some of the impacts of climate change.