Adaptation in the Paris Agreement: security and justice dimensions

Abstract: Adaptation is a long-standing component of the climate policy agenda and becomes more relevant as climate change induced threats are increasing. The Paris Agreement presents a shift in the international climate regime, and incorporates adaptation as a fully independent subject, basing the policies on local needs and movements. Still, the Agreement faces critique, as the gap between decision-making level and individual level presents a lack of security and justice two dimensions, which incorporate the concerns for equality and effectiveness of adaptation actions.The analysis of the PA through a combination of quantitative thematic textual analysis and qualitative content analysis highlighted the existing presence of security and justice dimensions in relation to adaptation; however, the presence of these dimensions does not come with the same level of impact, thus rendering them to be a rather minor consideration in global adaptation policy planning and implementation. Therefore, the gap between decision making level and affected level is an outcome of the lack of considerations regarding security and justice dimensions, which is an issue of wider GEG policy agenda, making one doubt the possibility of globally led individual-based adaptation approach which would serve for the well-being of individuals.