Adaptation as a field of research and practice: notes from the frontiers of adaptation

Abstract

This chapter seeks to draw together the overarching themes from the contributions to this book, and does so through the development of four arguments. The first argument is that the Australian experience with adaptation policy and research is of global relevance. The second argument is that adaptation to climate change is not happening, even if one might disagree about its effectiveness and whether it is happening in the right locations and institutions. The third argument is that there is limited utility and probably only confusion offered by the increasing classification of types of adaptation, for example, as being ‘autonomous’ or ‘evolutionary’ in nature. The fourth argument is that adaptation cannot be said to be a ‘science’; rather, it is a complex interdisciplinary field of inquiry whose ultimate rationale must include delivering policy-relevant information to decision-makers. The chapter uses many examples from Australia to illustrate the points made.