Similarities and Differences in Barriers and Opportunities Affecting Climate Change Adaptation Action in Four North American Landscapes

A comparative analysis of four North American landscapes—northern Ontario (Canada), the Adirondack State Park (US), Arctic Alaska (US), and the Transboundary Rocky Mountains (US and Canada)—reveals both shared and region-specific barriers and opportunities hindering climate change adaptation efforts. While common challenges include lack of political support, financial constraints, and difficulties in translating complex climate impacts into actionable management strategies, opportunities such as collaboration, funding, and strong leadership were identified across regions. However, regional variations suggest that adaptation strategies must be tailored to local ecological, political, social, and economic contexts. The study underscores the potential for cross-site learning while emphasizing the need for context-specific approaches to advance climate change adaptation in these landscapes.

Lonsdale, W. R., Kretser, H. E., Chetkiewicz, C.-L. B., & Cross, M. S. (2017). Similarities and Differences in Barriers and Opportunities Affecting Climate Change Adaptation Action in Four North American Landscapes. Environmental Management, 60(6), 1076–1089. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00267-017-0933-1