Global adaptation governance: an emerging, contested domain

This research paper examines the existence and strength of global governance regarding climate change adaptation, arguing that while such governance is emerging, its further strengthening is contested due to measurement difficulties and a lack of clear problem-framing.

• The 2015 Paris Agreement established a global goal on adaptation to strengthen global governance, but this goal has not yet been operationalized.
• The authors define global adaptation governance as the process where state and non-state actors in the global or transnational sphere intentionally and authoritatively shape constituent actions toward climate change adaptation as a public goal.
• The strengthening of global adaptation governance is contested by two primary factors: the lack of distinct metrics and the ambiguity of adaptation which hinder progress measurement, and a lack of global-level problem-framing or recognition of adaptation as a global public good, which undermines the legitimacy and authority of governance initiatives.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2019). Global adaptation governance: an emerging, contested domain. https://www.sei.org/publications/global-adaptation-governance-emerging-contested-domain/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Global adaptation governance: an emerging, contested domain. 2019. https://www.sei.org/publications/global-adaptation-governance-emerging-contested-domain/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Global adaptation governance: an emerging, contested domain |date=6 September 2019 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/global-adaptation-governance-emerging-contested-domain/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2019global, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Global adaptation governance: an emerging, contested domain}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2019}, month = sep, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/global-adaptation-governance-emerging-contested-domain/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }