Unpacking the 'information barrier': comparing perspectives on information as a barrier to climate change adaptation in the interior mountain West.
Inadequate information has been repeatedly identified as a barrier to climate change adaptation planning and implementation. However less is known about how information functions as a barrier, and to what degree it prevents adaptation compared to other perceived barriers. In addition, the role of institutional context in mediating the demand for information in the context of adaptation has been less well studied. This paper helps to clarify the role that information plays in adaptation planning for two sectors of public employees working at similar scales, in similar locations, with similar challenges. We conducted surveys and semi-structured interviews to investigate the demand for information in support of adaptation implementation and planning from US federal public lands managers and municipal officials in the US interior West. We found that federal managers and municipal officials both consulted information frequently for decision making, and while both groups indicated that lack of information at relevant scales was a barrier to adaptation planning, this was seen as a much stronger barrier for federal managers than for communities. Uncertainty of information was raised as an issue, but results were mixed on whether or not this acted as a strong barrier. While peer-reviewed publications were seen as the "best available science," and correlated with adaptation planning, they were not accessed directly as frequently as other sources of information, including colleagues, the internet and reports. The strong connection between communities and adjacent federal lands may provide an opportunity for networking that could facilitate the flow of information relevant for adaptation.
School of Environmental and Public Affairs (SEPA), University of Nevada, Las Vegas, 4505 S. Maryland Parkway, Las Vegas, NV 89154-4030, USA. Electronic address: kelli.archie@unlv.edu.
Kelli M
KM
Archie
Center for Science and Technology Policy Research (CSTPR), University of Colorado Boulder, 488 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0488, USA; Cooperative Institute for Research in Environmental Sciences (CIRES), University of Colorado Boulder, 216 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0216, USA; Environmental Studies Program, University of Colorado, 397 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0397, USA. Electronic address: lisa.dilling@colorado.edu.
Lisa
L
Dilling
Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder, 427 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0427, USA. Electronic address: Jana.milford@colorado.edu.
Jana B
JB
Milford
Institute of Behavioral Science, University of Colorado Boulder, 483 UCB, Boulder, CO 80309-0483, USA. Electronic address: fred.pampel@colorado.edu.
Fred C
FC
Pampel
D057231:Climate Change; D007255:Information Services; D014481:United States
Climate change adaptation; Decision making; Information demand; Municipal adaptation; Public lands