Just adaptation(s)

Forging the responsible climate change leadership imperative

Dados Bibliográficos

ID6441258
AutoresSasha Maher (0000-0002-4746-9311, University of Auckland), Brad Jackson (0000-0001-9646-9302, University of Waikato)
Ano2025
Volume21
Fascículo4
Páginas304-324
Data de publicação2025-06-05
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoLeadership (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1742-7150 • E-ISSN: 1742-7169
EditoraSAGE Publishing (PUBLISHER • US)
DOI10.1177/17427150251348010
OpenAlexW4411046743
IdiomaEN
Referências citadas60

Climate change impacts are intensifying but experienced unevenly. In response, calls for transformative adaptation—rather than incremental approaches that fail to address root causes—are growing. Transformative adaptation entails systemic shifts in political, social, and economic structures to reduce vulnerability for humans and non-humans alike. This paper examines leadership responses to escalating climate impacts in New Zealand, asking what forms of adaptation are being enacted and what should be enacted through a responsible leadership lens. Drawing on discursive analysis of public documents and interviews with 16 key stakeholders, the study finds that predominant leadership practices remain largely insufficient. These approaches promote incrementalism that fragments collective action and weakens climate policy. The paper argues for a shift toward responsibility-oriented leadership that centres stakeholder relationships and collective agency. In doing so, it seeks to advance leadership and organizational scholarship, and to inform public debate on climate adaptation and systemic transformation

Adaptation (eye · Engineering ethics · Environmental ethics · Forging · Political science · Public relations · Sociology · Engineering · Philosophy · Psychology · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance · Mechanical Engineering