Studies on adaptive capacity to climate change: a synthesis of changing concepts, dimensions, and indicators

Adaptive capacity was recognized as one of the critical components of vulnerability assessment in 2001 by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Adaptive capacity extends beyond the mere accumulation of resources to encompass the willingness and ability to transform available resources into adaptive actions. In this context, adaptive capacity denotes the ability of social-ecological systems to adjust to the negative effects of environmental change or recovery from it. Hence, enhancing adaptive capacity enriches the ability to cope with a wider spectrum and greater magnitude of climate impacts. Based on the literature review and content analysis, this study explores the foundational concepts of adaptive capacity and further assesses the evolving focus on concept, scale, geographical emphasis, dimensions, and indicators through a systematic review. The findings underscore that adaptive capacity constitutes a multidimensional and interdisciplinary research domain characterized by a range of dimensions and indicators, and diverse methods and techniques at various geographic scales. The study found that adaptive capacity research has predominantly centered on asset-based analyses within the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework in the earlier stage. However, since the past decade, the focus has shifted to indicators like agency, technology, innovation, governance, knowledge, information, and infrastructure, besides climate variability and socio-economic and cultural diversity. It is suggested that to bridge the gap between adaptive capacity and actual adaptation action, policy interventions need to be targeted. The study concludes that, despite abundant research and available literature on climate change and adaptation, there is still a lack of context-specific understanding, particularly from an insider’s perspective in South Asia.