ABSTRACT

Adaptation is a central concept in climate change research and policy-making and is increasingly being integrated into development planning under rubrics such as mainstreaming, climate-resilient development, and climate-compatible development. This chapter examines the relationship between climate change adaptation (CCA) and development, drawing on anthropological and related disciplines to examine how selected national governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), business, and local communities engage with the coupling of CCA to development planning. It shows that current mainstreaming policies seek to accommodate adaptation initiatives within established development paradigms and projects using a resilience-based framework. These policies have been criticised as insufficient to bring about long-term sustainability. Critics argue that a shift towards more transformative initiatives and a rethinking of current development paradigms are required. The chapter summarises the background to development and climate change studies; looks critically at the nexus between CCA and development planning and practice in selected developing countries; and discusses current debates on climate-resilient and climate-compatible development pathways.