SOLidarity in climate change Adaptation policies: towards more socio-spatial justice in the face of multiple RISks – SOLARIS

On the one hand, the project focuses on the implementation of public policies for the prevention and management of extreme hydrographic hazards, and on the other hand, the project identifies and maps the related socio-spatial injustice trajectories and the solidarity needs that may arise from them. It thus analyses the instruments of public action and the design and implementation of projects set up by the PACC.
Furthermore, a case study approach will be adopted to analyse implementation. Each partner (France, Finland, Belgium and England) will conduct 2 case studies. This empirical approach allows for the study of ongoing participation as well as the examination of socio-spatial inequalities that may only be revealed after the implementation of the CCAPs. In France, the Bouillie spillway in Blois and the coastal areas in Ault are examined.
The SOLARIS scientific approach is driven by a need to improve Climate Change Adaptation Policies (CCAP). Delivering impact requires close coupling of the project team, research activities, end-users and the wider research and academic community. The project has, therefore, been designed to maximise the connectivity between these parties by utilising a wide range of engagement and dissemination activities throughout its life. We anticipate the strategy for disseminating the project's outcomes to societal actors through a concrete demand driven approach (a), the involvement of external stakeholders during the project (b) and a strategy to communicate to non-scientific societal stakeholders (c).

To conceptualise all types of socio-spatial injustices that may occur through CCAP and their implementation.
To develop a census and to map the trajectories of related socio-spatial injustices, as well as the needs for solidarity that may arise from them.
To produce a practionners’ guide available on the web, with visually attractive layout on the most relevant information and propositions to help address CCAP issues. As the Guide addresses different user groups (authorities, private parties, at regional, national and international levels), there will be two forms, both accessible in English.
To produce teaching and learning materials on the challenge associated with climate change adaptation policies.
To deliver new knowledge in a field where social sciences have already studied and identified social, spatial or racial injustice more systematically but mostly focussed in southern countries or for specific thematic policies (agriculture, energy). Studies considering the justice impacts of CCAP at the local scale are recognised as being limited.

By studying socio-spatial inequalities associated with implementation of CCAP, we hope to create impact by: 1) highlight where these inequalities are present within decision-making and policy implementation and which groups are being favoured or marginalised; 2) challenge Flood Risk Management (FRM) practitioners to recognise these inequalities within decision-making processes; 3) initiate dialogues about these issues within the local case study areas.

Therefore, SOLARIS will target a range of societal stakeholders including policymakers, flood risk managers, national and EU government, who may have direct interest of the findings. Furthermore, citizens at risk may also be interested in the findings as a greater knowledge about the social-spatial inequalities may empower communities to ask questions of those managing risk.

The project will have several scientific dissemination products (communications, holding of a final conference in 2024, publication of scientific articles) but the results will be more widely disseminated to those responsible for climate change adaptation policies and to the general public through various media: by setting up a website for the project, by organising exchanges with local actors in the investigated sites, by producing a practionners’ guide for those responsible for public policies on adaptation to climate change, and by producing a web documentary and holding an artistic experiment.

Mitigation policies are insufficient to deal with “dangerous anthropogenic interference” (IPCC, 2018) and adaptation is critical. Climate change adaptation policies need to address physical impacts, but are subject to social, political and spatial trade-offs. In Europe, major implementation challenges arise in relation to democracy, solidarity and social justice. We must anticipate the distributional impacts of deliberative participation processes when forming policies. SOLARIS (“SOLidarity in climate change Adaptation policies: towards more socio-spatial justice in the face of multiple RISks”) focuses on social-spatial injustices of Climate Change Adaptation Policies (CCAP). SOLARIS aims to fill the gap in analysis of social justice in relation to climate change adaptation policies. SOLARIS has both scientific and societal objectives and outcomes. It aims to: develop conceptual and analytical approaches to reveal social justice perspectives of CCAPs and explore the policy and decision-making process for a large range of stakeholders (e.g. policy-makers, practitioners, citizens etc.) to facilitate better participatory processes.

Our hypothesis in the SOLARIS project is that social and spatial inequalities exist and threaten the implementation of climate change adaptation policies and the equitable involvement of affected citizens. Several potential social injustices may occur in face of climate change and policies implemented to assist adaptation: i) injustice in the levels of risk experienced and how these will be impacted by climate changes ii) injustice related to the level of contribution to tackling risk and implementing climate adaptation iii) differences in the level of ability to impact decision-making, and iv) injustice in the capacity to respond and adapt. Understanding how these injustices occur and who is advantaged or disadvantaged and in what manner is critical to implementing socially acceptable and just climate change adaptation policies.

This is particularly true for floods, that are among the main climate and weather-related causes of damage in Europe. Through the lens of flood risk management, we will evaluate the design of climate change adaptation policies and the instruments that they use to reduce the risk from extreme events. Concentrating on those strategies which better integrate adaptive actions, SOLARIS focuses on flood prevention, the accommodation of water to reduce impacts and flood preparation and recovery. A case study approach will be adopted (2 per country) to analyse cases which have implemented, or which are in the process of implementing climate change adaptation policies. This approach permits the study of ongoing participation as well as exampling the socio-spatial inequalities that may only be revealed post-implementation.

Based on multi-disciplinary research from four countries (Belgium, England, Finland, France), the SOLARIS project addresses two questions: i) How can we assess and map socio-spatial inequalities related to the implementation of climate change adaptation policies? We explore what factors make specific groups less involved in climate change adaptation policies and analyse their distributional impacts. ii) How are inequalities addressed by adaptation policies? We examine what solidarity mechanisms are implemented and how affected groups are engaged in adaptation policies. Integration in the decision-making process is studied through citizen participation during the processes of definition and implementation.

Through these two research questions, the project contributes to the first call priority: Social justice and participation. SOLARIS addresses adaptation to climate change through revealing injustice and need for solidarity. It also aims to assess the public participation of citizens during the design and implementation of CCAP planning instruments in the case of flood risk strategies and how these processes impact on the distribution of outcomes.