Eric Kretsch to defend this Friday July 8th
Kretsch presenting findings from thesis research at TRB-CMTS Joint Conference at the National Academy of Sciences in Washington, D.C. June 24, 2016.
Abstract:
Leadership is of growing concern to researchers in exploring how adaptation barriers are created. Currently, much of the literature has focused on frame-working and understand where barriers arise in the adaptation process; while adaptation leadership research has focused on identifying functions and behaviors of adaptation leaders that motivate and sustain the policy process. Through a case study are the Port of Providence (Providence, RI) my research begins to bridge the gap between research on adaptation leadership and barriers to climate adaptation. I do this by exploring how actor differences in perception of leadership and leadership contribute to the formation of barriers and by investigating how would-be leader self-perception of leadership role contributes to the formation of barriers. I found that different port actor groups do perceive leadership differently and that expected resilience outcome influences actor perception. These both contribute to fragmentation of adaptation responsibility and institutional void (in which no rules or governing structures exist to implement adaptation). I found that would-be port leader perceptions of role also contribute to barriers, via prioritization and partner relationship issues. This research shows that pre-planning dialogue, in which stakeholders, leaders, and feasible resilience outcomes are organized, are important in complex adaptation communities where no adaptation leader is easily identified.
Committee:
Dr. Austin Becker (advisor); Department of Marine Affairs
Dr. Robert Thompson; Department of Marine Affairs
Dr. Jim Opaluch; Department of Environmental and Natural Resources Economics
Time and Location:
Friday, July 8th @ 1:00-3:00pm; Kingston Coastal Institute Building; Weaver Auditorium