In the context of research highlighting the mixed performance of coastal climate change adaptation elsewhere, this thesis developed a modified Analysis-Awareness-Action (AAA) framework to evaluate local climate change adaptation in four coastal townships along the vulnerable southwest coast of Taiwan in order to derive recommendations for local adaptation framework development. This mixed-method research included an assessment of socioeconomic vulnerability through the development of a socioeconomic vulnerability indicator framework (SVIF) (‘Analysis’). This included a face-to-face questionnaire survey with the public to evaluate public awareness of climate change (‘Awareness’), public participation and community engagement in adaptation actions; and an expert workshop and follow-up survey to identify the challenges in local adaptation framework (‘Action’). Results of the study show that the AAA framework is not only a useful and relevant approach to contribute to local adaption in Taiwan, but can also serve as a reference for other threatened countries and people in Asia and non-member countries of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to respond to climate change. Results of the SVIF demonstrated that the SVIF was capable of judging location-specific susceptibility and resilience to climate change between different coastal communities. Results of the questionnaire revealed high levels of public concern about climate change, but generally public understanding is insufficient. Further scientific evidence and explanation is necessary to increase public understanding and knowledge of climate change. Many findings are consistent with the wider literature. For example, respondents favoured an emphasis on mitigation over adaptation; preventive and protection actions were seen as the most effective adaptation approaches and the immediate priority; potential cost and influence of specific govermental actions on communities may constrain participation. Additionally, cognitive, affective, and behavioural factors, which may influence local adaptation engagement, were identified. These suggest that a constructive dialogue and participatory process is needed with the public in order to increase community engagement in local adaptation. Finally, specific challenges for local adaptation framework development, related to political, economic, social, technological, legal, and environmental (PESTLE) perspectives were identified. As a result, it was recommended that there is a need for a range of improvements to the current system, including engaging other local organisations and private actors, developing specialist organisations, legislative acts, and considering multiple objectives in formulation of adaptation actions to eliminate the potential conflict of interest.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:716028 |
| Date | January 2017 |
| Creators | Jhan, Hao-Tang |
| Publisher | Cardiff University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://orca.cf.ac.uk/100159/ |
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