Adaptation as a catalyst for social change

Adams, Helen; Gini, Giovanna; Dawson, Richard; Fowler, Hayley; Jenkins, Katie; Jones, Stephen; Krishnamoorthy, Shruthi; Pant, Raghav; Paterson, Shona; Toney, Jaime; Yule, Emma; Witton, Rosie; Wolstenholme, Ruth

doi:10.1371/journal.pclm.0001052

Adaptation as a catalyst for social change

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Adams, Helen, Gini, Giovanna, Dawson, Richard, Fowler, Hayley, Jenkins, Katie ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6740-5139, Jones, Stephen, Krishnamoorthy, Shruthi, Pant, Raghav, Paterson, Shona, Toney, Jaime, Yule, Emma, Witton, Rosie and Wolstenholme, Ruth (2026) Adaptation as a catalyst for social change. PLoS Climate, 5 (9). e0001052. ISSN 2767-3200

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Abstract

Adaptation to climate change is currently characterised by ever-increasing costs to maintain the status quo with respect to climate hazards. This gap is worsened by the fiscal austerity that characterises the current political and economic situation in many countries. These cuts reduce societal resilience through neglected public infrastructure, services and civic spaces generating vulnerability to shocks and an everyday lack of opportunity. Here we argue that without addressing economic austerity, the viability of current approaches to adaptation are severely compromised. Thus, engaging with, and shifting, societal values, norms and objectives in decision-making will be central to a more cost-effective and orderly form of adaptation. This requires amplifying the political voice of communities who often lack the power to effect change. In this framing, adaptation goes beyond (but still includes) responding to hazard, placing greater emphasis on investment in people and advancing their wellbeing. Adaptation becomes a political force driving social change and challenging the logic of economic austerity.

Item Type:	Article
Faculty \ School:	Faculty of Science > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Faculty of Science > Research Centres > Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research University of East Anglia Research Groups/Centres > Theme - ClimateUEA
Related URLs:	https://dx.plos.org/10.1371/journal.pclm...
Depositing User:	LivePure Connector
Date Deposited:	30 Sep 2026 12:44
Last Modified:	03 Oct 2026 23:03
URI:	https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/104668
DOI:	10.1371/journal.pclm.0001052

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