Tese de doutoramento, Alterações Climáticas e Políticas de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (Sociologia), Universidade de Lisboa, Instituto de Ciências Sociais, 2016The rationale for this thesis is based on the principle that the adaptability and resilience of societies to climate change impacts should be contemplated for those living today, as well as for future generations. This study is guided by a concept of climate change adaptation that accounts for the possibility of a sustainable transition to transformed socio-technical and social-ecological systems. It is also informed by multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary participatory action-research (PAR) experiences. PAR approaches can be instrumental for supporting collective action, simplifying complex decision-making processes; and facilitating shared common visions towards more sustainable development pathways. PAR is more likely to integrate insights from different knowledge systems, by engaging a number of researchers from diverse scientific disciplines, while attempting to respond to local needs and empirical questions. PAR may thus offer a ground for experimenting with disparate approaches to the study of transitions and transformation. The hypothesis that underlies this study suggests that, in climate change adaptation research, PAR promotes outputs that may influence more sustainable development pathways through the reflexive involvement of diverse social actors, at different scales and levels of governance. The hypothesis was depicted on the basis of three important aspects that co-evolved with the development of this thesis. First, it acknowledges the possibility for transformational adaptation. Second, its definition resulted from my experiences in conducting collaborative research within a multidisciplinary group, in the context of an EU funded research project. Third, it is also based on my own conceptual journey into different interpretations and approaches to the study of transitions and societal transformation. The thesis is structured in six chapters, and centred in four research articles. Chapter I provides a general introduction that starts with describing my personal transition, followed by the scientific context for the research developed; and ending with a description of the aims of the study and an outline of the following five chapters. Chapter II presents the results of a literature review on long-term sustainable transitions and societal transformation. The reviewed literature focused on different perspectives that have been developed over the previous decades, including the Sustainable Transitions Research Field; the Social-Ecological Systems Resilience Framework; and Social Practice Theory. Chapter III describes the methodological trajectory and presents na analytical framework that integrates the different components of the research developed. These methodological components include five research questions and three research objectives, leading up to the main hypothesis. The chapter also explains the collaborative framework under which multidisciplinary action-research case studies were implemented. Findings from the case study research experiences are described and critically discussed throughout the four papers encompassed by Chapter IV. The succeeding Chapter V presents a meta-discussion of the papers that address the thesis’ guiding questions and main hypothesis. In Chapter V, the key findings of the study are abridged. The empirical studies illustrate that PAR, co-implemented by scientists and other social actors, is playing a role in igniting adaptation processes in Portugal. PAR does serve the purpose of creating adaptation outputs, such as strategies, plans, or long-term visions for more adapted, resilient and sustainable societies. Nevertheless, the case studies do not provide any certainties of whether the momentum for adaptation will be sustained over the medium or long term. Yet, collaborations, dialogue, participation and a continuous reflexivity on how future directions are paved seem to be key features for moving forward in a new sustainability agenda that integrates and transforms the negative effects of climate change. Thus, this thesis advocates for complementarity, collaboration and the overcoming of conceptual and disciplinary frontiers in climate change adaptation research, towards a governance for transformation
