A Decent Environment For All: Climate Justice Assessment of European Regional Adaptation Plans

Abstract

This thesis examines the link between climate justice and adaptation planning in seven European regions. While climate adaptation is advancing, it is evident that vulnerable groups are more exposed to climate change effects. In order to protect those with less adaptative capacities, fairness and justice considerations must be included in adaptation planning. To assess how advanced European regions are in incorporating climate justice principles within their adaptation plans, the Adaptation Justice Index, complemented by semi-structured interviews, was applied. By employing these methods, it was discovered that while procedural and distributional justice are advancely incorporated in adaptation planning, the recognitional and restorative dimensions are still theoretical concepts that ought to be developed.