Skip to main content

ETHNOS_APP

Home • Search • Journals • List 0

Twenty-five years of adaptation finance through a climate justice lens

Bibliographic Data

ID23334752
AuthorsMizan R Khan (0000-0002-2069-6127, International Centre for Climate Change and Development), Mizan Khan, Sarah Anne Robinson (0000-0003-3163-8771, Colby College, corresponding author), Romain Weikmans (0000-0002-1523-2993, Université Libre de Bruxelles), David Ciplet (0000-0002-0242-8890, University of Colorado Boulder), J T Roberts (0000-0002-8726-5698, Brown University)
Year2020
Volume161
Issue2
Pages251-269
Publication date2020-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueClimatic Change (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0165-0009 • E-ISSN: 1573-1480
PublisherSpringer Science and Business Media LLC (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1007/s10584-019-02563-x
OpenAlexW2982563871
LanguageEN
Citations received79
References cited34

How much finance should be provided to support climate change adaptation and by whom? How should it be allocated, and on what basis? Over the years, various actors have expressed different normative expectations on climate finance. Which of these expectations are being met and which are not; why, and with what consequences? Have new norms and rules emerged, which remain contested? This article takes stock of the first 25+ years of adaptation finance under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and seeks to understand whether adaptation finance has become more justly governed and delivered over the past quarter century. We distinguish among three “eras” of adaptation finance: (1) the early years under the UNFCCC (1992–2008); (2) the Copenhagen shift (2009–2015); and (3) the post-Paris era (2016–2018). For each era, we systematically review the justice issues raised by evolving expectations and rules over the provision, distribution, and governance of adaptation finance. We conclude by outlining future perspectives for adaptation finance and their implications for climate justice.

Adaptation (eye) · Climate change · Climate Finance · Climate justice · Corporate governance · Developing country · Economic growth · Economics · Normative · Political science · United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change · Climate Change and Geoengineering · Climate Change Policy and Economics · Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration · Ecology · Finance · Law · Psychology

  • A world climate bank to the rescue? Transaction costs and the climate bargain approach

    Open Access•Richard Endörfer•Politics Philosophy & Economics•2026

  • Harnessing climate finance for public health

    Open Access•Yuzhu Fang, Chi‐chuan Lee et al.•Humanities and Social Sciences…•2026

  • Machine learning evidence map reveals global differences in adaptation action

    Open Access•Anne J Sietsma, Emily Theokritoff et al.•One Earth•2024

  • For politics, people, or the planet? The political economy of fossil fuel reform, energy dependence and climate policy in Haiti

    Open Access•Keston K Perry•Energy Research & Social Science•2019

  • Accumulation by adaptation

    Open Access•Kimberley Anh Thomas•Geography Compass•2024

  • Defining Climate Finance Justice

    Open Access•Lindsay Gifford, Laura Aileen Sauls•Geography Compass•2024

  • A confirmatory factor model for climate justice

    Open Access•Marcelo Furlan, Enzo Barberio Mariano et al.•Environmental Science & Policy•2022

  • Revisiting the role of international climate finance (ICF) towards achieving the nationally determined contribution (NDC) target

    Open Access•Djoko Santoso Abi Suroso, Budhi Setiawan et al.•Environmental Science & Policy•2022

  • A call for a sociology of adaptation

    Open Access•Danielle Falzon, Raka Sen•Sociological Forum•2024

  • Resisting, leveraging, and reworking climate change adaptation projects from below

    Open Access•Megan Mills‐novoa, R Boelens et al.•The Journal of Peasant Studies•2023

  • Governmentalities, hydrosocial territories & recognition politics

    Open Access•Megan Mills‐novoa, R Boelens et al.•Geoforum•2020

  • Surviving Climate Chaos

    Julian Caldecott, Julian Oliver Caldecott•Surviving Climate Chaos•2021

  • Empirical assessment of equity and justice in climate adaptation literature

    Open Access•Shaugn Coggins, Lea Berrang-Ford et al.•Environmental Research Letters•2021

  • Following the money

    Open Access•Nina Incerti, Jon Barnett•Environmental Research Letters•2024

  • Assessing climate-related non-economic loss and damage and rethinking the relation between L&D and adaptation

    Open Access•Jörn Birkmann, Ali Jamshed et al.•Environmental Research Letters•2026

  • Equity in human adaptation-related responses

    Open Access•Malcolm Araos, Kripa Jagannathan et al.•One Earth•2021

  • Sedimentation-enhancing strategies for sustainable deltas

    Open Access•Frances E Dunn, Jana Cox et al.•One Earth•2023

  • How the money flows

    Open Access•Rahwa Kidane, Robbert Biesbroek et al.•Global Environmental Change•2026

  • Financing a sustainable future

    Open Access•Yuzhu Fang, Chi‐chuan Lee et al.•Humanities and Social Sciences…•2025

  • The impacts of development finance for climate on public health outcomes and life satisfaction

    Open Access•Dinkneh Gebre Borojo, Jiahui Liu et al.•Frontiers in Public Health•2026

  • Factors Used in Allocating Finance for Climate Change Adaptation in Tanzania

    Open Access•Peter Msumali Rogers, Edmund B Mabhuye et al.•SAGE Open•2026

  • Rebooting a failed promise of climate finance

    Open Access•J T Roberts, Romain Weikmans et al.•Nature Climate Change•2021

  • Municipal finance shapes urban climate action and justice

    Open Access•Claudia V Diezmartínez, Anne Short Gianotti•Nature Climate Change•2024

  • Vulnerability-based allocations in loss and damage finance

    Open Access•Sarah Anne Robinson, J T Roberts et al.•Nature Climate Change•2023

  • In Whose Name Are You Speaking? The Marginalization of the Poor in Global Civil Society

    Open Access•Carole-Anne Sénit, Felix Biermann•Global Policy•2021

  • The evolution of empirical adaptation research in the global South from 2010 to 2020

    Open Access•Katharine Vincent, Georgina Cundill•Climate and Development•2022

  • How to track progress on the Global Goal on Adaptation

    Danielle Falzon•Climate and Development•2024

  • External power dynamics and international climate governance in a crises-constrained world

    Anisha Nazareth, Dayoon Kim et al.•Climate and Development•2024

  • Intersectional climate action

    Open Access•Kaitlin F Strange, Mar Satorras et al.•Local Environment•2024

  • Just by design

    Brewton Berry, Brianna Farber et al.•Local Environment•2022

  • Global-local nexus in sustainable development

    Jingyuan Xu, Yue Zhang•Journal of Environmental Planning…•2026

  • Climate change and health in the Global South

    Open Access•Obianuju Patience Ilo, Sylvester Ilo et al.•Development Southern Africa•2025

  • La politique allemande de l’aide climatique

    Ellen Ledger, Carola Klöck•Allemagne d aujourd hui•2022

  • Power dynamics and the politics of climate finance

    Open Access•Istiakh Ahmed, Laura Kuhl•Earth System Governance•2026

  • The impact of adaptation on climate vulnerability

    Open Access•George Babington Amegavi, Zechariah Langnel et al.•Sustainable Cities and Society•2021

  • Does climate finance enhance mitigation ambitions of recipient countries

    Open Access•Sungida Rashid, Mizan R Khan et al.•Earth System Governance•2023

  • Beyond promises

    Open Access•Kirsty Anantharajah, Abidah B Setyowati•Energy Research & Social Science•2022

  • Financing loss and damage from slow onset events in developing countries

    Open Access•Sarah Anne Robinson, Mizan R Khan et al.•Current Opinion in Environmental…•2021

  • Equity, inclusion, and justice as criteria for decision-making on climate adaptation in cities

    Open Access•Elaine Chu, Clare E B Cannon•Current Opinion in Environmental…•2021

  • The need for a climate-resilient development-aligned framing of innovative climate finance

    Open Access•Jessica Omukuti•Current Opinion in Environmental…•2024

  • Rethinking governance in international climate finance

    Open Access•K E Browne•Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews…•2022

  • Turning climate justice into practice? Channeling loss and damage funding through national social protection systems in climate‐vulnerable countries

    Open Access•Jona Huber, Una Murray•Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews…•2023

  • Scratches on the wall

    Open Access•Kirsty Anantharajah•Journal of Global Ethics•2024

  • Climate adaptation in public-oriented research communication

    Open Access•Lorenzo Zannini, Niall Curry•Critical Discourse Studies•2025

  • Adaptation in the UNFCCC

    Open Access•Xira Ruiz Campillo, María del Pilar Bueno Rubial•International Environmental…•2025

  • Developing a framework for assessing equity in national contributions to the global goal on adaptation

    Open Access•Kalia Ruth Barkai, Harald Winkler•International Environmental…•2024

  • Sustainable Energy for All? Assessing Global Distributive Justice in the Green Climate Fund’s Energy Finance

    Diana Dorman, David Ciplet•Global Environmental Politics•2021

  • Multilateral Climate Finance Coordination

    Open Access•Jakob Skovgaard, Kevin M Adams et al.•Global Environmental Politics•2023

  • Conflicting securities

    Open Access•Corinne Lamain•Globalizations•2022

  • Three Injustices of Adaptation Finance - A Relational Egalitarian Analysis

    Open Access•Alexander Schulan, Jan-Christoph Heilinger et al.•Journal of Agricultural and…•2024

  • Distributive justice in global climate finance – Recipients’ climate vulnerability and the allocation of climate funds

    Open Access•Mofakkarul Islam, Md Mofakkarul Islam•Global Environmental Change•2022

  • Indigenous women are the “guardians of Pachamama”

    Open Access•Holly Moulton•Global Environmental Change•2024

  • Colonial contexts and the feasibility of mitigation through transition

    Open Access•Patrick Trent Greiner•Global Environmental Change•2022

  • Aligning climate and sustainable development finance through an SDG lens. The role of development assistance in implementing the Paris Agreement

    Open Access•Gabriela Iacobuţă, Gabriela Ileana Iacobuţă et al.•Global Environmental Change•2022

  • Pathways for climate resilient development

    Open Access•Pramod K Singh, Harpalsinh Chudasama•Global Environmental Change•2021

  • The proliferation of municipal green bonds in Africa and Latin America

    Open Access•H Herrera•Environment and Urbanization•2024

  • Global environmental change III

    Open Access•Jon Barnett•Progress in Human Geography•2022

  • Global environmental change II

    Open Access•Jon Barnett•Progress in Human Geography•2020

  • The role of geostrategic interests in motivating public support for foreign climate aid

    Open Access•Dylan Bugden, Jesse Brazil•Journal of Environmental Studies…•2024

  • International climate and biodiversity funding

    Open Access•Charissa Bosma, Laura Hein et al.•World Development•2025

  • The new ‘bond-age’, climate crisis and the case for climate reparations

    Open Access•Keston K Perry•Geoforum•2021

  • Becoming ready, remaining disciplined? Access to climate finance and the double bind of accountability in Vanuatu

    Open Access•Johanna Tunn•Human Geography•2026

  • Achieving climate justice

    Xinrui Li, Chin-Hsien Yu et al.•Climate and Development•2026

  • Who Has a Voice in the Energy Transition in the U.S. States? A Fifty-State Study of Local News

    Open Access•R Wetts, Ann Garth et al.•Environmental Communication•2026

  • Regeneration beyond growth

    Open Access•Shafi'’u Adamu, Huang Yong et al.•Habitat International•2026

  • Environmental justice and the politics of climate change adaptation – the case of Venice

    Open Access•Rossella Alba, Silja Klepp et al.•Geographica Helvetica•2020

  • A just alternative to litigation

    Open Access•Sarah Anne Robinson, D’arcy Carlson•Third World Quarterly•2021

  • Locally led adaptation

    Open Access•M Feisal Rahman, Danielle Falzon et al.•AMBIO•2023

  • Implications of Tanzania’s central-local governmental power relationship for climate change adaptation financing at the local level

    Beatrice Kundael Sumari, Noah M Pauline et al.•Geografisk Tidsskrift-Danish…•2026

  • Whose Security? Rethinking Climate Risks Through Postcolonial and Ecological Lenses

    Open Access•Manuel A Zambrano‐monserrate•International Social Science…•2025

  • Embedding justice into climate policy and practice relevant to tourism

    Open Access•Raymond Rastegar, Becken•Journal of Sustainable Tourism•2025

  • Decolonizing Sociology for Social Justice in Bangladesh

    Open Access•Mohammad Awal Hossen•Critical Sociology•2023

  • Special Circumstances' and the Politics of Climate Vulnerability

    Open Access•Nicholas Chan•Africa Spectrum•2021

  • The unequal geographies of climate finance

    Open Access•David Ciplet, Danielle Falzon et al.•Political Geography•2022

  • The unbearable heaviness of climate coloniality

    Open Access•Farhana Sultana•Political Geography•2022

  • Loving Technologies? Beyond Climate Finance's Logics of Scalability in Infrastructures in Fiji

    Open Access•Kirsty Anantharajah•Science Technology & Human Values•2025

  • Compelled to Compete

    Open Access•Kimberley Anh Thomas•Development and Change•2023

  • Climate compatible development in practice

    Sarah Anne Robinson, D’arcy Carlson et al.•Development in Practice•2022

  • The political life of mitigation

    Open Access•Shaila Seshia Galvin, Diego Silva Garzon•The Journal of Peasant Studies•2023

  • The Environmentalism of the Poor

    Joan Martinez-Alier, Juan Martinez-Alier•Environmentalism of the Poor•2002

  • Power in a Warming World

    David Ciplet, J T Roberts et al.•Power in a Warming World - The…•2015

  • Justice in Funding Adaptation under the International Climate Change Regime

    Open Access•Marco Grasso•Justice in funding adaptation…•2010

  • Justice and the Politics of Difference

    Danielle S Allen, Iris Marion Young•Justice and the Politics of…•2012

  • Fair adaptation to climate change

    Open Access•Jouni Paavola, W Neil Adger•Ecological Economics•2006

  • Foreign Aid and Climate Change Policy

    Open Access•Daniel Yuichi Kono, Gabriella R Montinola•Politics and Governance•2019

  • Adapting to climate change at the national level in Caribbean small island developing state

    Open Access•Sarah Anne Robinson•Island Studies Journal•2018

  • Allocation of aid for adaptation to climate change

    Open Access•Carola Betzold, Florian Weiler•International Environmental…•2017

  • Framing Climate Change Loss and Damage in UNFCCC Negotiations

    Open Access•Lisa Vanhala, Cecilie Hestbæk•Global Environmental Politics•2016

  • The Transformative Capability of Transparency in Global Environmental Governance

    David Ciplet, Kevin M Adams et al.•Global Environmental Politics•2018

  • The Politics of International Climate Adaptation Funding

    David Ciplet, J T Roberts et al.•Global Environmental Politics•2012

  • Climate change adaptation in small island developing states

    Open Access•Sarah Anne Robinson•Environmental Science & Policy•2018

  • Climate change and the transition to neoliberal environmental governance

    Open Access•David Ciplet, J T Roberts•Global Environmental Change•2017

  • Sharing the burden of financing adaptation to climate change

    Open Access•Rob Dellink, M Den Elzen et al.•Global Environmental Change•2009

  • Cosmopolitan Justice, Responsibility, and Global Climate Change

    Open Access•Simon Caney•Leiden Journal of International Law•2005

  • Globalizing Responsibility for Climate Change

    Open Access•Steve Vanderheiden•Ethics & International Affairs•2011

  • Ecologically Unequal Exchange, Ecological Debt, and Climate Justice

    Open Access•J T Roberts, Bradley C Parks•International Journal of…•2009

  • Dual climate change responsibility

    C Jager, Sverker C Jager et al.•Environmental Politics•2008

  • Assessing the credibility of how climate adaptation aid projects are categorised

    Romain Weikmans, J T Roberts et al.•Development in Practice•2017

  • Distributing the burdens of climate change

    Edward A Page•Environmental Politics•2008

Unique citing works79
Citations per year11,29
Citation span2019 - 2026 (8)
Citation velocitycurrent
Highly citedNo
Citation typesNeutral: 68

Tools

Open DOISci-HubOpen Access
Ethnos_APP • Open Source Project • MIT License • Frontend v2.0.0 • Privacy and Cookies • API Documentation: api.ethnos.app/docs • API Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17049435 • Frontend Source Code: GitHub • DOI: 10.5281/zenodo.17050053 • cruz.rio.br • Expectantes Misericordiae