Developing climate change adaptation measures in a participatory process: Roundtable meetings

Abstract

Participation plays a major role in contemporary urban planning. This is particularly the case for climate change adaptation, which-given the interwoven processes of climate change-involves a wide range of actors and sectors. This chapter discusses the overall need for participatory adaptation planning, exemplifying it with the process to develop a Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plan for Santiago de Chile. The experience highlights the most significant lessons learned, including the challenges and constraints that emerged during the process. The chapter stresses the use of a multi-stakeholder, inter-sectoral planning approach that involved the organization of ten roundtable meetings in Santiago de Chile over a period of two and a half years. Political legitimacy was provided by the two principal institutions responsible for climate change planning at city-regional level. Their participation in the process from the outset was central to the successful elaboration of the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Plan.