ABSTRACT
This chapter reviews how research and knowledge have contributed to shaping climate change adaptation (CCA) and disaster risk reduction (DRR) policies. DRR including CCA policies rely largely on scientific knowledge with the notion of 'expertise' having a central role. Integrating different forms of knowledge in DRR, including CCA, policies is a difficult task. There is clearly the need to combine scientific and local knowledge to strengthen DRR, including CCA, policies and actions. While scientific knowledge provides indispensable technical information, local knowledge, too, is indispensable to ensure that DRR, including CCA, policies address local specificities and are compatible with local communities' values. Furthermore, CCA needs to be embedded within DRR in a common framework so vulnerability reduction, alongside sustainable development, can be addressed. To date, the two fields of research operate separately to a large degree, with few coordinated efforts among scientists to work with local communities, and without a common framework to implement policies.
