Strategies for Adaptation to Climate Change in a Transformative Approach

The Bangladesh experience shows, that adaptation to climate change needs to be seen in conjunction with existing weather patterns, natural hazards and the natural resources systems. Moreover, adaptation to climate change has next to the technical content a socio-economic dimension in relation to the many societal and economic aspects of water and climate change. Adaptation, in terms of strategy making and implementation is thus embedded in a countries’ society, traditions, technologies, governance and policies. This means that adaptation strategy making and implementation, while focusing on the physical system and use of technologies, are primarily cultural processes, with a struggle for meaning, sense making and sense giving to define the issues and challenges and formulate strategies and actions. Besides, the power related aspects of negotiation and decision making including budget allocation for investments are evident as well. The BDP 2100 is in other words ‘an expression of the politics of culture’ (De Heer, 2009, 2013). For TwynstraGudde Holding he was Team Leader of the Bangladesh Delta Plan 2100 Formulation Project from 2014-2019 and subsequently till 2024 Leader of the BDP 2100 Implementation Project. In 2024 he started jhrStratis, his own consultancy business concerned with adaptation and transformation related strategy development and implementation."