Conversations on adaptation effectiveness

Climate change poses significant challenges to the effective management of urban areas, coastal zones, natural systems and health-related aspects of human development. The four perspectives of adaptation effectiveness, namely results orientation, decision context and spatial and temporal considerations-which are themselves drawn from the urban, ecosystem, coastal and human health perspectives-appear to conceptual and operationprovide a useful set of lenses through which to frame the conversation on how best to tackle 'effective' adaptation. By taking different perspectives on these management challenges, this chapter demonstrates the considerable constraints in assessing what is considered to be 'good' adaptation. The chapter concludes with key findings emerging from these perspectives and literature, and poses these as critical questions for the adaptation research community for further exploration.