ABSTRACT
As stated in Chapter 1, climate adaptation policy is relatively new. Therefore, it is not surprising that the implementation of climate adaption measures and policy has not received much attention in the governance literature (Dupuis and Knoepfel, 2013; Hovi et al., 2009). In this chapter, we aim to focus on this subject. We build on the general implementation literature, which recognizes implementation as highly complex and difficult (Crosby, 1996; Sabatier and Mazmanian, 1980). Majone and Wildavsky even described implementation as ‘the continuation of politics with other means’ (1978: 175). In comparison with ‘regular’ implementation, climate change adaptation could be perceived as even more difficult as it is characterized by a long-term horizon with high levels of uncertainty (on the impacts of climate change). The scope of the problems and solutions can often be 50 years or more (e.g. Adger et al., 2005; Hallegatte, 2009; Underdal, 2010, see also van Buuren et al., Chapter 1, this volume).
