Connecting the present to the future: The potential of urban adaptation imaginaries
Local priorities shape the way urban adaptation to climate change is envisioned. Yet processes to capture these priorities often overlook the power dynamics behind structural vulnerabilities. Approaches to positive futures thinking that are transdisciplinary offer a way to centre local communities i...
| Autores: | , , , |
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| Tipo de documento: | artigo |
| Data de publicação: | 2025 |
| País: | España |
| Recursos: | Universidad del País Vasco |
| Repositório: | Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación |
| OAI Identifier: | oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/76537 |
| Acesso em linha: | http://hdl.handle.net/10810/76537 |
| Access Level: | Acceso aberto |
| Palavra-chave: | learning positive futures thinking relationality social justice transdisciplinarity urban adaptation imaginaries urban climate adaptation |
| Resumo: | Local priorities shape the way urban adaptation to climate change is envisioned. Yet processes to capture these priorities often overlook the power dynamics behind structural vulnerabilities. Approaches to positive futures thinking that are transdisciplinary offer a way to centre local communities in the process. However, these approaches are often limited as communities struggle to conceive climate change beyond their known realities and lived experiences, creating a disconnect between the present and future. We introduce the concept of ‘urban adaptation imaginaries’ to connect futures thinking to real-world social, political, and environmental contexts. Through a critical review, we argue this concept supports urban adaptation decision-making by emphasising its socio-political and relational dimensions, and by addressing the fragmentation and abstraction common in adaptation discourse about the future. We identify three key contributions: (1) fostering context-sensitive adaptation; (2) prioritising justice and inclusivity; and (3) enabling iterative learning processes. To support this, we highlight creative methods such as arts-based approaches, and storytelling to help make climate futures more accessible, grounded, and transformative. |
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