Thirteenth International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses

Abstract

This paper highlights insights from a comparative study of two cases of adaptation policy and practice, one in rural New York and another in Austria. Reflecting local challenges and how they relate to adaptation policy and its implementation, this presentation suggests key lessons learned for policy makers and practitioners. Based on qualitative interviews with farmers and farm laborers, policy makers and experts, this research highlights the political and practical struggles in addressing the climate crisis, problematizes the shortcomings of an emphasis of conservation over transformation in adaptation programs, and relates it to the on-going efforts of the Center for Climate Communities to translates lessons learned into communitiy-driven transformative adaptation approaches.