Assessing quality of knowledge for adaptation from climate services: Case studies from Sweden

The paper examines the gap between climate science and practice, arguing that top-down knowledge production often fails to meet user needs. Based on a five-year collaboration in Sweden involving researchers and local stakeholders, the study finds that while standard knowledge quality criteria (credibility, legitimacy, saliency, usability, and usefulness) are relevant, they are insufficient. The authors conclude that knowledge assessment must also account for case-specific circumstances, the decision-making context, and non-tangible outcomes to determine how knowledge is actually applied by adaptation planners.

• Top-down methods of producing knowledge are considered a primary cause of the disconnect between scientific research and practical application in climate adaptation, as they often fail to address the requirements of the users.
• Standard criteria for evaluating knowledge quality—specifically credibility, legitimacy, saliency, usability, and usefulness—are still applicable but do not fully explain how adaptation planners and decision-makers apply the knowledge in practice.
• Effective knowledge assessment must incorporate factors outside the immediate co-design process, such as the specific context of decision-making and outcomes that are not tangible.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2021). Assessing quality of knowledge for adaptation from climate services: Case studies from Sweden. https://www.sei.org/publications/assessing-quality-knowledge-adaptation-climate-services-sweden/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Assessing quality of knowledge for adaptation from climate services: Case studies from Sweden. 2021. https://www.sei.org/publications/assessing-quality-knowledge-adaptation-climate-services-sweden/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Assessing quality of knowledge for adaptation from climate services: Case studies from Sweden |date=4 May 2021 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/assessing-quality-knowledge-adaptation-climate-services-sweden/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2021assessing, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Assessing quality of knowledge for adaptation from climate services: Case studies from Sweden}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2021}, month = may, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/assessing-quality-knowledge-adaptation-climate-services-sweden/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }