Examining the challenges in mainstreaming climate change adaptation into local land-use planning: The case of Albay, Philippines

Abstract

Mainstreaming climate change adaptation (CCA) is an approach that links adaptation and sustainable development goals by integrating climate change information, concerns, and considerations into existing development planning, and policy- and decision-making processes. However, a gap exists in the operationalisation of mainstreaming, mainly because the tools and methodologies in mainstreaming neglect the institutional reforms needed in the approach. This thesis focused on mainstreaming CCA into local land-use planning, and asked “How can mainstreaming of CCA into local land-use planning be understood?” and “How can the challenges in the operationalisation of mainstreaming be overcome?” To answer these questions, a four-stage mixed methodology was devised and successfully applied in examining the challenges in mainstreaming CCA into local land-use planning in Albay, Philippines. Local land-use planning in Albay is a “critical case” because it presents evidence of institutional capacity for long-term adaptation to climate change, with indication of transformational opportunities for mainstreaming. The methodology applied the mixed method, case study, and scorecard approaches, and it involved triangulation by data technique (i.e., document review, interview, survey, and key informant consultations). By using this methodology, the research generated 20 quantitative “mainstreaming indicators” and produced qualitative assessments of the state-of-play and the challenges in local mainstreaming of CCA. Analyses revealed that (1) mainstreaming challenges exist within a spectrum, with barriers and opportunities for adaptation representing the extreme ends of this spectrum; (2) barriers can be overcome and can transcend into opportunities for mainstreaming CCA; (3) barriers can be classified according to varying levels of severity; and (4) barriers themselves are interconnected, but to differing degrees. Also, the research showed that mainstreaming operationalisation involves a network of interacting institutions and institutional arrangements that transcend across governance scales. Likewise, the challenges in mainstreaming CCA encompass a chain of interactions or interplays within the network (of institutions). Accordingly, overcoming mainstreaming challenges necessitates broad institutional reforms that go beyond the institutional setting where CCA is to be integrated. A deep understanding of these concerns can help scholars, practitioners, planners, and decision-makers anticipate the types of challenges to be encountered during the mainstreaming process; determine the severity of the impacts of these challenges; and formulate strategies that will overcome the challenges.