Anna Lyth

Interrogating resilience: toward a typology to improve its operationalization

In the context of accelerated global change, the concept of resilience, with its roots in ecological theory and complex adaptive systems, has emerged as the favored framework for understanding and responding to the dynamics of change. Its transfer from ecological to social contexts, however, has led to the concept being interpreted in multiple ways across numerous disciplines causing significant challenges for its practical application. The aim of this paper is to improve conceptual clarity within resilience thinking so that resilience can be interpreted and articulated in ways that enhance its utility and explanatory power, not only theoretically but also operationally. We argue that the current confusion and ambiguity within resilience thinking is problematic for operationalizing the concept within policy making. To achieve our aim, we interrogate resilience interpretations used within a number of academic and practice domains in the forefront of contending with the disruptive and sometimes catastrophic effects of global change (primarily due to climate change) on ecological and human-nature systems. We demonstrate evolution and convergence among disciplines in the interpretations and theoretical underpinnings of resilience and in engagement with cross-scale considerations. From our analysis, we identify core conceptual elements to be considered in policy responses if resilience is to fulfill its potential in improving decision making for change. We offer an original classification of resilience definitions in current use and a typology of resilience interpretations. We conclude that resilience thinking must be open to alternative traditions and interpretations if it is to become a theoretically and operationally powerful paradigm.

Urban wildscapes and green spaces in Mombasa and their potential contribution to climate change adaptation and mitigation

Well-planned urban green landscapes, including wildscapes and green spaces, have the potential to contribute to climate change adaptation and mitigation. Yet for cities in low-income countries, the value of these urban landscapes in climate change response strategies is often disregarded and remains largely unexploited and unaccounted for. This paper discusses the potential role of urban green landscapes as a “soft engineering” climate change response strategy, and calls for the pursuance of management practices that preserve and promote the use of these urban spaces. It does so by combining theoretical arguments with an empirical example based on an innovative and novel approach to landscape rehabilitation, the Lafarge Ecosystems Programme, in the coastal city of Mombasa, Kenya. The paper finds that a well-managed system of green landscapes in resource-poor urban areas can generate net social benefits under a range of future scenarios. It further finds that climate change adaptation and mitigation responses can be initiated by a range of stakeholders operating at all scales.

Shifting Towards Sustainability Education for climate change adaptation in the built environment sector

The document reports on a scoping study which investigated the professional training and development needs of architects, landscape architects, planners and engineers in climate change adaptation through engaging relevant accrediting institutions in an action inquiry process. The project sought to go further than a normal scoping study would, as it aimed to also assist the professional institutions involved to begin to think about, and take action on, professional development in climate change action.

Valuing third sector sustainability organisations – qualitative contributions to systemic social transformation

ABSTRACT The number and diversity of civil society or third sector sustainability organisations (TSSOs) have increased in recent decades. TSSOs play a prominent role in local approaches to sustainability. However, the contributions made by TSSOs are not fully understood, beyond a limited suite of quantifiable outputs and impacts. In this qualitative study, we examine how four TSSOs from two Australian regions, Tasmania and Queenslands Sunshine Coast, contribute to social transformation beyond discrete outputs. We examine the operation, ethos, scope and influence of these organisations over time. In so doing, we identify three common ways in which these organisations facilitate social change: by (i) enhancing social connectivity through boundary work; (ii) mobilising participatory citizenship and (iii) contributing to social learning. We conclude that TSSOs contribute significantly to the systemic social conditions that enable change for sustainability and the development of community resilience and well-being, but do so in ways undervalued by existing metrics, formal evaluation processes and funding models. Clearer recognition of, and strategic emphasis on, these qualitative contributions to social transformation is vital in ensuring that TSSOs remain viable and effective over the long term.

Place influences in framing and understanding climate change adaptation challenges

The climate change literature emphasises the importance of geographical understanding for guiding adaptation, in which “place” perspectives are particularly significant. After “scale”, the term “place” within the climate change adaptation literature is most often implicitly used in reference to a delineated and localised region, such as place-based risk assessment or place-based adaptation planning. Here, we use a case study of the Australian island-state of Tasmania to demonstrate the importance and particularity of place in the formation of climate change adaptation issues, problem definition and framing, and the dynamics of knowledge and praxis development across a range of research and industry sectors. We describe the significance of the place Tasmania with regard to its geographical location; its portrayal as an island place; and its cultural meaning and relations. Through a synthesis of climate change adaptation research, policy literature and engagement with researchers and stakeholders, we identify three emergent thematic place characterisations of Tasmania. We find that these characterisations have contributed directly or indirectly to the: initiation and extent of research and practical activities; the framing of adaptation issues and perspectives on potential adaptation responses in different sectors including the marine biodiversity and resources sector, small business and human health sectors. Exposing these influences is essential for focusing future adaptation activities, including research, planning, investment and practice, in Tasmania and other locations where place is a central issue.

Climate, urbanisation and vulnerability to vector-borne disease in subtropical coastal Australia: Sustainable policy for a changing environment

Abstract This paper examines the current health policy response to the management of vector-borne disease (VBD), specifically Ross River (RR) virus, in subtropical coastal Australia. It demonstrates the multi-dimensional nature of the VBD problem and considers the value of more sustainable policy responses. The paper provides an integrated exploration of the incidence of RR virus in the context of socio-biophysical interactions and change, climate variability, and possible enhanced threat due to climate change. The study focuses on two subtropical coastal case study regions in Australia. Collectively, the existing and emerging socio-biophysical interactions in these regionsraise questions as to the future risks and management of RR virus, while climate change adds a significant further dimension. The paper demonstrates the need for the incorporation of environmental planning elements, particularly attention to strategic assessment and planning, into the traditional suite of health policy responses given the multi-dimensional nature of the problem and evident socio-biophysical environmental change.

Education for Climate Change Adaptation — Enhancing the Contemporary Relevance of Planning Education for a Range of Wicked Problems

Abstract Planning education involves engaging students in many ‘wicked’ planning problems of which climate change is a particularly testing example. This paper demonstrates that by thinking about climate change problems for urban and regional places, educators are reminded about the importance of some more generic but essential capabilities required of planners in dealing with a range of challenging problems. Based on the experience of reviewing and ‘renovating’ the University of Tasmanias planning programme to embed education for climate change adaptation, this paper: (i) reflects on such a process; (ii) describes the application of specific pedagogical values and approaches to the education of planners for climate change adaptation in the universitys planning programme; and (iii) demonstrates how their application can facilitate improvement in education for other core planning capabilities. Among the pedagogical approaches embraced are: problem-based learning, adaptive learning and self-reflection, networked learning, critical thinking, linkage of theory and practice, and adaptation planning skills. Ultimately, the application of these approaches has not only addressed the need to incorporate education for climate change adaptation, but has also improved the capacity of the planning course to develop competencies relevant to planning for a range of challenging contemporary problems.

Accessibility and urban environment sustainability in Sydney (1991-2001)

One of the most important issues for enhancing environmental quality, especially in the urban environment, is developing accessibility versus mobility. With regard to this, we calculated the accessibility indicator by a zonal opportunity gravity model (employed person) for 38 local government areas (zones) with GIS tools, and, in addition, the changes in accessibility measured during 1991– 2001. In addition, the relationship between the accessibility index and six sub socio-eco-physical factors was calculated by multiple regressing. The result yielded from a map of accessibility changes shows that two scenarios had taken place simultaneously. One is a high positive change of accessibility value both in the central core, mostly strap pattern (concentration) and sub-urban areas (decentralization), the other is the low positive or negative change of accessibility value in the middle rings of Sydney. The results achieved by calculating the relationship between the accessibility index and the socioeconomic variables show that zones that have low car usage to work have high accessibility value. In contrast, zones with low weekly income families, far from the city center, with a high percentage of car usage to work have a low accessibility value.