Understanding barriers to social adaptation: are we targeting the right concerns?

Abstract

This article proposes that improved 'translation' of policy goals and actions into issues relevant to local stakeholders on the ground, may play an important role in stakeholders' understanding and consequent acceptance of the principles of sustainability and adaptation. In turn, the relevance of national or other higher level goals to on-the-ground stakeholders could be improved through communication of the concerns of stakeholders to policymakers. The subjective well-being concept is proposed as having the potential to improve such a communication. The article first provides an overview of key concepts in vulnerability and adaptation literature. Human well-being concept is then introduced and the results of an empirical study conducted in the Great Barrier Reef region of Australia are presented, providing evidence of factors perceived by respondents as most important to their well-being.