Are climate change adaptation strategies working? A call to expedite learning

• DOI: 10.1111/csp2.70060
• Publication Date: 2025-05-05T05:18:06Z
• Authors: Lara J. Hansen; Deborah A. Rudnick; Kathryn N. Braddock; Arden Drake; Scott Covington; Helen E. Fox; Kimberly R. Hall; James B. Hansen; Carolyn J. Lundquist; Eric E. Mielbrecht; Jordan M. West
• Keywords: Climate Change Adaptation

Abstract Evidence is lacking for what constitutes effective climate change adaptation to successfully conserve and steward ecosystems. Yet we urgently need this information develop robust strategies keep pace with unprecedented change, given our limited resources do so. This includes not just understanding if a strategy in single application, but perhaps more importantly has proven across sites where it been applied, or benefits only under certain sets of conditions. learning the field currently missing necessary bringing scale. We propose an approach that can guide efficacy testing varying levels baseline knowledge ecosystem complexity. The clearly defining conservation goals vulnerabilities, methodically collecting site metrics inform analysis efficacy, evaluating communicating both positive negative results order advance field. Using meta‐analyses post‐hoc quickly scale meaningful way. Furthermore, explicitly incorporating into processes support growth spark creative, adaptive management approaches will increase likelihood reducing vulnerability.