Institutional dependencies in climate adaptation of transport infrastructures: an Institutional Network Analysis approach

Batoul Mesdaghi,Amineh Ghorbani,Mark De Bruijne

doi:10.1016/j.envsci.2021.10.010

Batoul Mesdaghi, Amineh Ghorbani + Show 1 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.10.010

Copy DOI

Abstract

Climate adaptation measures are shaped and implemented through processes of governance, where the interactions and decision-making among actors lead to the creation and reinforcement of institutions. Institutions in this respect are the rules that shape the interactions of actors in different phases of climate adaptation. Currently there is no comprehensive method to systematically identify and map dependencies between institutions. This study proposes the Institutional Network Analysis (INA) approach that is based on the Institutional Grammar as a systematic and comprehensive tool to (1) visualise institutional dependencies, (2) identify points of concern in the institutional landscape such as conflicts and voids, and (3) provide quantitative insights into the centrality of actors, embeddedness of institutional outcomes, and dependencies between institutions. The approach is applied to the case of climate adaptation of transport infrastructures surrounding the Port of Rotterdam, the Netherlands. The analysis reveals a conflict in the use of risk assessment criteria, as parties in the Port may follow their own matrices in the presence of a shared decision-making framework. Nonetheless, the network metric analysis reveals that the criteria, whether shared or individual, build on the same source of risk analysis, suggesting that this duality may not be detrimental for climate adaptation efforts. Additionally, an institutional void is identified for financial responsibilities in locations where infrastructures overlap. Finally, the network metrics show high dependency between institutions in the risk dialogue phase, and reveal the centrality of infrastructure owners ProRail and RWS in the institutional landscape instead of local or regional governmental bodies.

Highlights

It is widely agreed that anthropogenic activities, in particular the burning of fossil fuels, have led to a variety of climate change phe nomena, such as the current trend of global warming, and more frequent extreme weather events (Forzieri et al, 2018; Rattanachot et al, 2015)
All infrastructure owners are dependent on the climate scenarios produced by the Royal Dutch Meteorological Institute and the policy requirements of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Water Management to issue specific types of stress tests, in order to carry out their actual tests
Conclusions from the diagrams Risk dialogues I and II show that the Port of Rotterdam and the Municipality of Rotterdam have an important coordinating role in conducting the risk analysis and aligning the risk perceptions of the other actors involved

Summary

Introduction

It is widely agreed that anthropogenic activities, in particular the burning of fossil fuels, have led to a variety of climate change phe nomena, such as the current trend of global warming, and more frequent extreme weather events (Forzieri et al, 2018; Rattanachot et al, 2015). These climate impacts pose serious risks for transport infrastructures, especially those connecting seaports to the hinterland (Chappin and Van der Lei, 2014). The func tioning of transport infrastructure pre-supposes coordination of the climate adaptation measures by public and private parties who manage and use these different infrastructures

Objectives

Methods

Findings

Discussion

Conclusion