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Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations

Received: 28 August 2022     Accepted: 18 October 2022     Published: 28 October 2022
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Abstract

Rooted in the concept of adaptation are change, action, stimulus, means and end. Whilst these elements are fundamental in clarifying the complex actor relationships surrounding adaptation, literature has tended to concentrate on the end (adaptation practice). Inherent in the provisions of interventions aimed at minimizing the specific impacts of climate change is the notion that adaptation will be automatically triggered. This article, which focuses on concepts and theories, argues that adaptation is more than mere action or what is usually described as the end. Using the Theory of Action (ToA) and the Framework for Analyzing Climate Change Adaptation as Actions (FACCAA), this article attempts to clarify the relationships between the key terminologies and contributes to knowledge on the adaptation discourse. Using empirical shreds of evidence from the Talensi District, the article underscores the proposition that water interventions are not necessarily adaptation practices neither are they automatic activators of adaptation. They are rather means expected to propel action for adaptation. The article concludes that elements, such as change, action, and means, are of equal importance as the popularly documented adaptation practice (end). All the elements deserve equal attention to unravel the complexities underpinning the concept of adaptation.

Published in American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering (Volume 6, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11
Page(s) 155-164
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2022. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Adaptation, Action, Means and End, Change, Water Interventions

References
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Cite This Article
  • APA Style

    Winfred Abdulai Nelson, Clifford Amoako, Rudith King, Philip Antwi-Agyei, Samuel Kwofie. (2022). Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations. American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, 6(4), 155-164. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11

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    ACS Style

    Winfred Abdulai Nelson; Clifford Amoako; Rudith King; Philip Antwi-Agyei; Samuel Kwofie. Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations. Am. J. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2022, 6(4), 155-164. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11

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    AMA Style

    Winfred Abdulai Nelson, Clifford Amoako, Rudith King, Philip Antwi-Agyei, Samuel Kwofie. Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations. Am J Environ Sci Eng. 2022;6(4):155-164. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11

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  • @article{10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11,
      author = {Winfred Abdulai Nelson and Clifford Amoako and Rudith King and Philip Antwi-Agyei and Samuel Kwofie},
      title = {Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations},
      journal = {American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering},
      volume = {6},
      number = {4},
      pages = {155-164},
      doi = {10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajese.20220604.11},
      abstract = {Rooted in the concept of adaptation are change, action, stimulus, means and end. Whilst these elements are fundamental in clarifying the complex actor relationships surrounding adaptation, literature has tended to concentrate on the end (adaptation practice). Inherent in the provisions of interventions aimed at minimizing the specific impacts of climate change is the notion that adaptation will be automatically triggered. This article, which focuses on concepts and theories, argues that adaptation is more than mere action or what is usually described as the end. Using the Theory of Action (ToA) and the Framework for Analyzing Climate Change Adaptation as Actions (FACCAA), this article attempts to clarify the relationships between the key terminologies and contributes to knowledge on the adaptation discourse. Using empirical shreds of evidence from the Talensi District, the article underscores the proposition that water interventions are not necessarily adaptation practices neither are they automatic activators of adaptation. They are rather means expected to propel action for adaptation. The article concludes that elements, such as change, action, and means, are of equal importance as the popularly documented adaptation practice (end). All the elements deserve equal attention to unravel the complexities underpinning the concept of adaptation.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations
    AU  - Winfred Abdulai Nelson
    AU  - Clifford Amoako
    AU  - Rudith King
    AU  - Philip Antwi-Agyei
    AU  - Samuel Kwofie
    Y1  - 2022/10/28
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11
    DO  - 10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11
    T2  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
    JF  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
    JO  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
    SP  - 155
    EP  - 164
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2578-7993
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11
    AB  - Rooted in the concept of adaptation are change, action, stimulus, means and end. Whilst these elements are fundamental in clarifying the complex actor relationships surrounding adaptation, literature has tended to concentrate on the end (adaptation practice). Inherent in the provisions of interventions aimed at minimizing the specific impacts of climate change is the notion that adaptation will be automatically triggered. This article, which focuses on concepts and theories, argues that adaptation is more than mere action or what is usually described as the end. Using the Theory of Action (ToA) and the Framework for Analyzing Climate Change Adaptation as Actions (FACCAA), this article attempts to clarify the relationships between the key terminologies and contributes to knowledge on the adaptation discourse. Using empirical shreds of evidence from the Talensi District, the article underscores the proposition that water interventions are not necessarily adaptation practices neither are they automatic activators of adaptation. They are rather means expected to propel action for adaptation. The article concludes that elements, such as change, action, and means, are of equal importance as the popularly documented adaptation practice (end). All the elements deserve equal attention to unravel the complexities underpinning the concept of adaptation.
    VL  - 6
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • National Development Planning Commission, Accra, Ghana

  • Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Centre for Settlement Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

  • Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

  • General Studies Department, Koforidua Technical University, Koforidua, Ghana

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