This research project has the main objective to analyse the still pending integration of transformation theories, socio-ecological analyses, and action research for adaptation. The central research question is: How can sustainable climate change adaptation governance be improved by the co-constructive development of socio-ecological transformation pathways? For this question to be answered, A5 will – as a follow-up the project C3: Sustainable Adaptation Scenarios for Coastal Systems in CliCCS-1 – continue to collaborate with coastal communities on the islands of Föhr and Amrum on exploring nature-based coastal protection while at the same time investigating the possibilities of sustainable land-use in relation to climate change and eutrophication in rural areas along the River Elbe. The project will provide grounded strategies for reconciling climate change adaptation measures with competing anthropogenic uses, social interests, administrative regulations and political strategies. It engages with communities in place-based and active climate change adaptation and supports the Adaptation Group’s aim in CLiCCS to co-produce transformative adaptation measures in living labs.

The project pursues the following four main objectives:

• analyse the still pending integration of transformation theories with socio-ecological approaches and action research for climate change    adaptation;
• investigate how present adaptation could be improved by empirically engaging with plausible and desirable climate futures;
• study how these can be realised in the cases of nature-based coastal protection on the Frisian islands of Föhr and Amrum and in the case of eutrophication and agriculture along the river Elbe and
• contrast them with newly developing connections (an openness to do coastal protection and agriculture differently) to scrutinise emergent socio-ecological phenomena and steer change through co-development and co-production.

In doing so, the project merges transformation theories with socio-ecological approaches by putting scientific, local, administrative and other “knowledges” into action for improving concrete adaptation.

The research is divided into four interconnected work packages that build on each other and will be conducted in an interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary manner:

Work package 1: Organisation of inter- and transdisciplinary cooperation

Lead: Beate Ratter (UHH) and Martin Döring (UHH)

This work package is devoted to organizing trans- and interdisciplinary cooperation in the project. It will maintain contacts to actors through feedback discussion rounds, implement living labs and analyse their outcomes, and conduct the social science and governance analysis in the empirical fields of eutrophication and agriculture and nature-based coastal protection.

Work package 2: Nature-based solutions for coastal protection on the islands Amrum and Föhr

Lead: Peter Fröhle TUHH), Rita Seiffert (BAW) and Elisabeth Rudolph (BAW)

This work package will analyse the options for nature-based coastal protection on both islands, generating relevant data for scenario building for sea-level rise and extreme events. Field measurements and on-site observations will be combined with process modelling and cooperative scenario development for concrete studies on interventions to be taken on both islands.

Work package 3: Eutrophication and agriculture along the river Elbe

Lead: Kirstin Dähnke (Hereon) and Gesa Schulz (Hereon)

This work package will investigate the interaction between reduced water runoffs and 02 minima to provide relevant data for cooperative scenario building and the selection of test sites. Field measurements and observations will be conducted and feed into process modelling and cooperative scenario building to co-design concrete interventions in test sites for agriculture along the river Elbe.

Work package 4: Analysing cost and risk decision processes

Lead: Beate Ratter (UHH) and Hermann Held (UHH)

This work package complements work package 1 and provides an analysis of the estimated costs and the willingness to pay for the possible measures to be taken in agriculture and nature-based coastal protection. Qualitative interviews and surveys will be conducted among selected riparian municipalities and with farmers to assess possible economic costs to reveal the financial incentives and limitations for instigating transformative climate change adaptation.