Adaptive capacity and its assessment

This paper reviews the concept of adaptive capacity and various approaches to assessing it, particularly with respect to climate variability and change. I find that adaptive capacity is a relatively under-researched topic within the sustainability science and global change communities, particularly since it is uniquely positioned to improve linkages between vulnerability and resilience research. I identify opportunities for advancing the measurement and characterization of adaptive capacity by combining insights from both vulnerability and resilience frameworks, and I suggest several assessment approaches for possible future development that draw from both frameworks and focus on analyzing the governance, institutions, and management that have helped foster adaptive capacity in light of recent climatic events.

Research highlights
► Adaptive capacity is a central, but often overlooked concept within both vulnerability and resilience frameworks.
► Assessments of adaptive capacity that draw from the benefits of both vulnerability and resilience research can serve to advance theory and application within the field of sustainability science.
► Assessments can be improved by examining governance, institutions, and management preparations for and responses to recent climatic events.
► Additional novel approaches need to be considered for measuring and characterizing adaptive capacity.