An evolutionary approach to adaptive capacity assessment: A case study of Soufriere, Saint Lucia

Journal article

This paper assesses the capacity of Soufriere, Saint Lucia to adapt to climate change. A community-based vulnerability assessment was conducted that employed semistructured interviews with community members. The results were analysed using the Local Adaptive Capacity (LAC) framework, which characterises adaptive capacity based on five elements: asset base; institutions and entitlements; knowledge and information; innovation; and flexible forward-looking decision-making and governance. Beyond providing an in-depth analysis of Soufriere’s capacity to adapt to climate change, the paper argues that the elements of the LAC framework largely correspond with an evolutionary perspective on adaptive capacity. However, other evolutionary themes – such as structure, history, path-dependency, scale, agency, conservation of diversity, and the perils of specialisation – should also be taken into account.

Authors: Wojcik, D; Hogarth, J

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: MDPI
• Journal: Sustainability
• Volume: 8
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 228
• Publication date: 2016-03-03
• Acceptance date: 2016-02-18
• DOI: 10.3390/su8030228
• ISSN: 2071-1050
• Keywords: Climate change; Community-based vulnerability assessment; Small Island Developing States; Local adaptive capacity framework; Adaptation; Evolutionary; Adaptive capacity; Vulnerability