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Besides the clear recognition that conditions have changed or are about to change, past and current efforts in developing and implementing adaptation polices are also driven by the fact that autonomous action by economies and societies is expected to still be insufficient to address the complexity, range and magnitude of risks associated with climate change and socio-economic developments. Public intervention can thus be considered as a strategic and collaborative effort in coping with existing and future climate risks and exploiting opportunities. This is in particular relevant for an interdisciplinary arena like climate change adaptation where a multitude of actors need to join forces for concerted action. Governments therefore hold an important role to support society by intervening with a mix of policies and action for certain negative effects and opportunities of climate change that cannot be addressed by private actors and market forces alone. Public authorities (national, regional, local) are thus challenged with building the policy competence to take up this responsibility under the condition that any public intervention should be a complement to the market and individual activities and not replace or duplicate them (Edquist and Chaminade, 2006).

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  • bogaejoh (Johan Bogaert) 27 Jun 2014 11:38:21

    What is written about the drivers of adaptation is as far as I know totatlly right. But I have the feeling that there is another driver that is not mentioned and that is the press. The real turning moment in Belgium, I guess also in other countries, was the campagn of All Gore. Suddenly a lot of people were aware of the climae change, while before  that, there were hardly people beleving there was something going on.  

    (see also end of page)

  • callusab (Sabine McCallum) 24 Jul 2014 12:01:26

    Acknowledged - this is very likely true that media holds an important role with regard to raising awareness and thus contributing to pressure from society on authorities to act. However, cannot base this on evidence 

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