Climate Change Adaptation in River Management

Reviews / Votes

"This book contributes significantly to the literature on comparative climate adaptation and shows how and why understandings of best approaches to water management are changing. It will be of interest to those concerned with the effects of climate change, evolving water management policies, and the ways in which water management is being viewed in major economies in Europe and in Asia. The book is an important and fascinating read."
- Miranda A. Schreurs, Professor of Environment and Climate Politics, Technical University of Munich, Germany
"Why do countries take different technical approaches to flood control? In this ground-breaking qualitative study of the cases of South Korea and Germany, Yi Hyun Kang uses discursive institutionalism to explore the key role of social discourse and discursive conflicts in bringing about major shifts to long-standing patterns of flood risk management (Germany) or not (Korea). A must-read for those interested in the sourcesand dynamics of continuity and change in water management responses to climate change."
- Vivien A. Schmidt, Professor of International Relations, Pardee School of Global Studies, Boston University, United States

"This book provides a thorough comparative analysis of the political and institutional factors that shape the differences in climate change adaptation approaches in South Korea and Germany. The cases of this study show that social discourses, decision-making structures, informal norms and shocking events have influenced the flood risk management policies. Participatory processes were found to increase the chance of policy change. The book makes a case for a more stakeholder-inclusive climate adaptation governance, since participation can reduce the uncertainty related to implementing a new policy. The book is essential reading, not only for scholars interested in comparative analyses, but also for policymakers and politicians working on water and climate governance issues."
- Dries Hegger, Assistant Professor of Regional Water and Climate Governance, Copernicus Institute of Sustainable Development, Utrecht University, the Netherlands