A Framework for Dialogue Between Local Climate Adaptation Professionals and Policy Makers

The report examines how local climate adaptation lessons are 'upscaled' to inform national or sub-national policy. It introduces a sense-making framework based on two axes—epistemology (realism vs. constructionism) and intent of inquiry (universalism vs. contextualism)—to categorize how research connects with policy. By analyzing three case studies (Stockholm, Niagara, and the Mahakam Delta), the authors demonstrate that methodological choices determine whether research supports 'planned policy' (regulatory/coercive) or 'self-organised adaptation' (non-coercive). The report argues that case studies can serve as platforms to challenge disabling governance structures and leverage stakeholder competencies to reinvent institutions.

• The report identifies a tension between the 'upscaling' model of policy mainstreaming, which seeks generalisable lessons for national policy, and community-based adaptation, which is inherently contextual and community-led.
• The authors propose a conceptual model of 'sense-making perspectives' to analyze research approaches, distinguishing between 'realism' (viewing cases as objective settings) and 'constructionism' (viewing reality as co-created through stakeholder dialogue), and between 'universalism' (seeking generalisations) and 'contextualism' (valuing diverse, context-specific expressions).
• Methodological choices directly influence whether research contributes to 'planned policy' (coercion and regulation) or 'self-organised adaptation' (non-coercive policy).
• In the Stockholm region case (Mistra-SWECIA), the primary barrier to implementing adaptation was identified not as a lack of scientific knowledge, but as a lack of coordination between local practitioners and regional organisations.
• The Niagara region case (ACRM&CCA) highlighted that municipal decision-makers often refrain from building adaptive capacity due to a lack of baselines and certain frameworks, and that local agencies remain dependent on external support for forecasting models.
• The Mahakam Delta case (MANGROVE project) demonstrated that the definition of the problem shapes the approach: linking mangroves to climate change and storm surges leads to technocratic, expert-driven paradigms, while focusing on livelihoods leads to participatory conservation.
• Case study research can be used to address 'disabling governance structures' by allowing local stakeholders to highlight responsibilities belonging to higher levels of decision-making and embed community issues into national policies.
• There is a risk in participatory research that researchers may adopt an 'extractive' mode, pursuing 'generalisable' insights for academic publication without providing direct value to the local stakeholders or ensuring they retain ownership of their insights.

APA

Larsen, R. K., Swartling, Å. G., Powell, N., Simonsson, L., & Osbeck, M. (2011). A Framework for Dialogue Between Local Climate Adaptation Professionals and Policy Makers. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-ResearchReport-Larsen-AFrameworkForDialogueBetweenLocalClimateAdaptationProfessionalsAndPolicyMakers-2011.pdf

Chicago

Larsen, Rasmus Klocker, Åsa Gerger Swartling, Neil Powell, Louise Simonsson, and Maria Osbeck. A Framework for Dialogue Between Local Climate Adaptation Professionals and Policy Makers. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2011. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-ResearchReport-Larsen-AFrameworkForDialogueBetweenLocalClimateAdaptationProfessionalsAndPolicyMakers-2011.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Larsen |first1=Rasmus Klocker |last2=Swartling |first2=Åsa Gerger |last3=Powell |first3=Neil |last4=Simonsson |first4=Louise |last5=Osbeck |first5=Maria |title=A Framework for Dialogue Between Local Climate Adaptation Professionals and Policy Makers |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=2011 |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-ResearchReport-Larsen-AFrameworkForDialogueBetweenLocalClimateAdaptationProfessionalsAndPolicyMakers-2011.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{larsen2011framework, author = {Larsen, Rasmus Klocker and Swartling, Åsa Gerger and Powell, Neil and Simonsson, Louise and Osbeck, Maria}, title = {{A Framework for Dialogue Between Local Climate Adaptation Professionals and Policy Makers}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2011}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/SEI-ResearchReport-Larsen-AFrameworkForDialogueBetweenLocalClimateAdaptationProfessionalsAndPolicyMakers-2011.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }