Conclusiones del estudio

The framework used in this study builds on Corfee Morlot et al., (2009) as well as the conceptual and methodological literature previously reviewed. Corfee-Morlot et al.,

(2009) underscore that adaptation integration offers benefits for all conceptual stages of

the multi-level governance adaptation planning policy process. The conceptual research approach used in this study proposes three conceptual policy making themes as an

overarching framework for describing, exploring and discussing impactful social factors

affecting municipal and provincial policy making functions in a multi-level adaptation governance context(See Figure Two and Appendix A2).

Figure 2: Conceptual framework for MCCAP case study analysis

The research question in this study is: What are the social factors that impacted municipal climate change adaptation policy and planning processes in the multi-level governance context of Nova Scotia’s MCCAP? Based on the literature, three policy-making themes of conceptual interest are posited to be important for answering this research question. In the MCCAP multi-level adaptation governance case study, the three conceptual themes of research interest include:

1. The impactful social factors and conditions that lead to the initiation of municipal adaptation policies and plans in multi-level adaptation governance contexts; 2. The impactful social factors and conditions that enable and constrain adaptation

capacity-building in municipalities in multi-level adaptation governance contexts; 3. The impactful social factors and conditions that enable and constrain adaptation planning and policy integration and implementation at the local scale in multi- level adaptation governance contexts

Addressing the first conceptual theme for case study research and analysis requires identifying impactful social factors and conditions that contribute to the initiation of adaptation policy-making and planning in municipalities: What initiates municipal adaptation planning in multi-level governance contexts? In Chapter Three, Vogel and Henstra (2015) review how agenda setting and problem framing may pertain to inside organizationalinitiation patterns that rely on operationalizing technical expertise,often in

the wake of disaster related focusing-events that provide opportune windows for policy-

making entrepreneurship. Chapters Four and Fivefurther explore and describe impactful social factors affecting adaptation-planning initiation in the Nova Scotia MCCAP multi-

level adaptation governance context using this research design. Focus group results are

re-tested using an iterative online survey to produce findings that narrow the scope of

analysis for individual case comparisons of interviews results across municipal cases. Comparative findings illustrate and discuss social impact factors, using three purposively

selected municipalities to provide context and depth to aggregate level, iterative survey findings. This method advances conceptual and empirical knowledge of the impactful

social factors influencing municipal adaptation planning in a multi-level governance context, using depth and breadth research to advance conceptual discussion.

The second conceptual theme relates to impactful social factors and conditions that build capacities for adaptation planning and policy-making in municipalities: What contributes to enabling adaptation capacity building and the social conditions for municipal adaptation planning? In Chapter Three, Vogel and Henstra review how municipal processes of policy option formulation and adaptation and risk prioritization often occurs in small, internal working groups tasked with identifying adaptation options, utilizing diverse techniques such as the comparative assessments of hazards, risks and vulnerabilities in order to facilitate the prioritization of adaptation actions. Focus group

results in Chapter Four prelude iterative testing using an online survey narrow the scope of prioritized social impact factors analyzed using individual cases. In Chapter Five, comparative cases illustratively explore and describe key social impact factors affecting adaptation planning capacity building, based on the empirical observations within the

larger case of the MCCAP case study, and illustrated across internal MCCAP individual municipal cases, and in relation to existing literatures.

The third conceptual theme for research and analysis relates to impactful social factors and conditions that contribute to the integration of adaptation into the planning, policies and practices of municipalities: How does adaptation-planning implementation in multi- level adaptation governance contexts occur? Relatedly, what are the social factors that impact adaptation integration into the planning, policy-making and operational decision- making practices of municipal institutions? In Chapter Three, Vogel and Henstra review how engaging stakeholders and public participation provides important opportunities for generating and operationalizing local knowledge and expertise through multi-stakeholder collaborations, and that this social process plays important roles that can support policy integration into day-to-day activities. However, while integrating adaptation is arguably required to provide policy coherence, it requires overcoming significant social and institutional constraints, notably including the symptomatic condition of multi-level governance institutional fragmentation and lack of political leadership for climate action.

In Chapter Six, impactful social factors affecting municipal adaptation planning

integration in multi-level adaptation governance contexts are illustrated across individual cases and in contrast to existing literatures. The lack of local ‘political will’ to act on adaptation priorities may relate to scarce resources, competing priorities and reciprocal low levels of public demand for adaptation which problematizes adaptation policy integration as a priority on the municipal agenda. In Chapter Three, Vogel and Henstra review how the generation of political will and leadership is viewed as an essential element influencing how adaptation policy development and how adaptation integration may occur (or not occur). It is notable that there are multiple and complex barriers and constraints hindering local political leadership on climate change, in multi-level governance contexts.