Closing the Climate Gap

Abstract

Problem, research strategy, and findings Although theory and practice contend that local knowledge improves climate adaptation planning, little research has documented the kinds of information shared by residents. Planners can use this information to assist in the creation of planning processes and tools, as well as investigate how local knowledge contributes—or does not contribute—to planning outcomes. We developed a provisional typology of how local knowledge has been used for adaptation planning and used a case study to ask: When compared with existing research, what information do residents share? How might this knowledge be useful for climate adaptation? In interviews, residents identified new ideas about local knowledge and climate adaptation planning: cascading harms and repeated trauma from—and mental health implications related to—climate events, lack of trust in municipalities, and how community capacity increases climate adaptation. Although these themes support existing research, to our knowledge, these findings are the first empirical data from studies focused on local knowledge in which frontline residents themselves identified the need for increased attention to mental health, community capacity, and trust building. Our findings contribute to larger conversations about climate adaptation planning as well as help inform the development of an adaptation tool in Austin (TX). Takeaway for practice We identified three takeaways for climate adaptation planning: increase acknowledgment of and attention to mental health effects, integrate local knowledge about community capacity, and consider incorporating local knowledge to build trust.