Path Dependency and Future Adaptation of Coastal Cities: Examples From the Asia-Pacific

Patrick D Nunn; Timothy F Smith; Carmen Elrick-Barr

doi:10.3389/fenvs.2021.642385

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Path Dependency and Future Adaptation of Coastal Cities: Examples From the Asia-Pacific

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Path Dependency and Future Adaptation of Coastal Cities: Examples From the Asia-Pacific

Patrick D Nunn, Timothy F Smith and Carmen Elrick-Barr

Frontiers in Environmental Science, Vol.9, pp.1-14

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.3389/fenvs.2021.642385

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Abstract

coastal management

climate change adaptation

path dependency

urban futures

sea-level rise

urbanization

sustainable futures

The need for Asia-Pacific coastal cities to adapt effectively and sustainably to accelerating (relative) sea-level rise is growing. If such adaptation does not occur in a timely manner, then it could result in socioeconomic problems that will reverberate throughout the region. Using examples of coastal Asia-Pacific cities that are characterised by contrasting geographical settings and cultural contexts, this study argues that the main barrier to such adaptation is path dependency. In this sense, path dependency is a legacy of past decisions that have been influenced by topography, economic goals, and the cultural-political characteristics of key decision-making groups. These path dependencies manifest as various adaptation preferences, which to date have been dominated by hard engineering solutions. In an era of accelerating climate change there is now a need to seek alternatives to in-situ urban growth. This paper argues that an understanding of a city's path dependency is key to optimizing the effectiveness of future adaptation.

Details

Title: Path Dependency and Future Adaptation of Coastal Cities: Examples From the Asia-Pacific
Authors: Patrick D Nunn (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Cluster
Timothy F Smith (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Cluster
Carmen Elrick-Barr (Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Sustainability Research Cluster
Publication details: Frontiers in Environmental Science, Vol.9, pp.1-14
Publisher: Frontiers Research Foundation
Date published: 2021
DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2021.642385
ISSN: 2296-665X
Copyright note: Copyright © 2021 Nunn, Smith and Elrick-Barr. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Grants: Coastal Governance: Embracing Vulnerability and Change, FT180100652, Australian Research Council (Australia, Canberra) - ARC
Organisation Unit: Indigenous and Transcultural Research Centre; Australian Centre for Pacific Islands Research; School of Law and Society; Sustainability Research Cluster
Language: English
Record Identifier: 99564108802621
Output Type: Journal article