Framing justice in urban climate adaptation policy in 14 frontrunner cities

Source abstract

Increasingly critical focus is being placed on how urban adaptation policies approach issues of justice. Adaptation has been shown to exacerbate existing inequities or create new ones. Framings of justice issues in adaptation policies affect what representations are ultimately translated into practice. This study contributes to the field of adaptation justice by offering a critical look into the way proposed frontrunner cities approach justice issues by employing a frame analysis on 14 urban adaptation policies for the concepts they use and centre the issues around, what issues they focus on and how, and the way justice issues are presented. The results show three frames used in the policy documents: (i) justice through protection, which focuses on protecting the citizens and their ability to adapt; (ii) justice through equity and participation, which stresses equitability in distribution and increased fairness in participation; and (iii) justice through transformation, which suggests that justice issues are more deeply rooted in social structures and systems. We argue that while not all adaptation actions have far-reaching justice consequences, adaptation policies and policymakers should make a cognisant effort to recognise and acknowledge how and what inequities affect the adaptation initiatives and processes, to achieve more just and equitable adaptation outcomes.