European Island Outermost Regions and Climate Change Adaptation: A New Role for Regional Planning

Some European regions are experiencing unprecedented impacts due to climate change. The islands of the Outermost Regions are also being affected by this phenomenon. When these islands have a higher level of functional complexity, climate change increases the difficulty of defining their urban and re...

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Main Authors: Cecilia Ribalaygua, Francisco García, Héctor García Sánchez
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Island Studies Journal 2019-05-01
Series:Island Studies Journal
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.78
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author Cecilia Ribalaygua
Francisco García
Héctor García Sánchez
author_facet Cecilia Ribalaygua
Francisco García
Héctor García Sánchez
author_sort Cecilia Ribalaygua
collection DOAJ
description Some European regions are experiencing unprecedented impacts due to climate change. The islands of the Outermost Regions are also being affected by this phenomenon. When these islands have a higher level of functional complexity, climate change increases the difficulty of defining their urban and regional planning tools. A comparative analysis of the characteristics of these islands (comparing land use and demographic density) and a review of the efficacy of planning tools for incorporating climate change adaptation has been developed in order to understand the transformations produced in the regulatory frameworks. Through the case studies of Gran Canaria (Spain) and Reunion Island (France), which show high levels of urban and peri-urban land use pressure, the paper focuses on analysing the degree of mainstreaming adaptation strategies, as key elements for land use planning in a context of climate change. Results show a dysfunction between adaptation needs and the incorporation of the climatic issue in land use management. Insular planning tools do not generally consider climate change adaptation and excessive top-down management is observed in the decisionmaking process. This paper contributes new case studies to the literature, comparing two non-sovereign European islands, and reviews the regulatory framework on adaptation in insular contexts related to climate change.
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spelling doaj.art-8c6c1f183bd9428fab946566c611f0522023-07-27T08:43:01ZengIsland Studies JournalIsland Studies Journal1715-25932019-05-01141European Island Outermost Regions and Climate Change Adaptation: A New Role for Regional PlanningCecilia RibalayguaFrancisco GarcíaHéctor García SánchezSome European regions are experiencing unprecedented impacts due to climate change. The islands of the Outermost Regions are also being affected by this phenomenon. When these islands have a higher level of functional complexity, climate change increases the difficulty of defining their urban and regional planning tools. A comparative analysis of the characteristics of these islands (comparing land use and demographic density) and a review of the efficacy of planning tools for incorporating climate change adaptation has been developed in order to understand the transformations produced in the regulatory frameworks. Through the case studies of Gran Canaria (Spain) and Reunion Island (France), which show high levels of urban and peri-urban land use pressure, the paper focuses on analysing the degree of mainstreaming adaptation strategies, as key elements for land use planning in a context of climate change. Results show a dysfunction between adaptation needs and the incorporation of the climatic issue in land use management. Insular planning tools do not generally consider climate change adaptation and excessive top-down management is observed in the decisionmaking process. This paper contributes new case studies to the literature, comparing two non-sovereign European islands, and reviews the regulatory framework on adaptation in insular contexts related to climate change.https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.78
spellingShingle Cecilia Ribalaygua
Francisco García
Héctor García Sánchez
European Island Outermost Regions and Climate Change Adaptation: A New Role for Regional Planning
Island Studies Journal
title European Island Outermost Regions and Climate Change Adaptation: A New Role for Regional Planning
title_full European Island Outermost Regions and Climate Change Adaptation: A New Role for Regional Planning
title_fullStr European Island Outermost Regions and Climate Change Adaptation: A New Role for Regional Planning
title_full_unstemmed European Island Outermost Regions and Climate Change Adaptation: A New Role for Regional Planning
title_short European Island Outermost Regions and Climate Change Adaptation: A New Role for Regional Planning
title_sort european island outermost regions and climate change adaptation a new role for regional planning
url https://doi.org/10.24043/isj.78
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