Advancing Climate Change Adaptation: Borrowing from the Natural Hazard Research (NHR) Tradition in Geography

Abstract

Extreme events have widespread impact on human and natural systems, and the response to such extreme events is examined by several academic and practicing communities. For decades, the Natural Hazard Research (NHR) tradition in geography, led by White and expanded by scholars like Mitchell, have looked at possibilities of blending and applying technological fixes and societal adjustments to reduce the risk of losses from extreme events. While knowledge about potential impacts of climate change related to extreme events has grown substantially, the consolidation of knowledge to plan for and respond to extreme climate events in the short and long terms has only begun in the past few years. These scholars have emphasized the importance of context, understanding and including the broader range of options, and systematic study of past experiences to elicit knowledge pertaining to effective societal responses to extreme events. Such lessons from the NHR tradition and the works of Mitchell are key to finding the way forward with climate change adaptation.