Advancing just climate adaptation in the global South: socio-technical assistance for nature-based solutions in the Pacific

Abstract

Socio-technical assistance projects advancing the use of urban nature-based solutions (NbS) are gaining currency in the global South, but many gaps exist in our understanding of how they can lead to more just outcomes. We examine the literature of informal settlement upgrading and climate adaptation in the global South to conceptualize contemporary socio-technical assistance projects using NbS. Building upon selected case studies in small island developing states (SIDS) in the Asia Pacific region, we draw lessons on how initiatives can address challenges such as power dynamics, limited funding and competing priorities. We examine these projects using justice as a lens that accounts for procedural, recognition and distributional dimensions. The findings reveal that, despite persistent barriers, there are mechanisms through which socio-technical assistance can contribute to justice in the implementation of NbS by creating new platforms for decision-making processes and relationships between residents, funders, local governments and academia.