Identifying Strengths and Obstacles to Climate Change Adaptation in the German Agricultural Sector: A Group Model Building Approach

Rodrigo Valencia Cotera, Sabine Egerer and María Máñez Costa
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Rodrigo Valencia Cotera: Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Fischertwiete 1, D-20095 Hamburg, Germany
Sabine Egerer: Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Fischertwiete 1, D-20095 Hamburg, Germany
María Máñez Costa: Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS), Helmholtz-Zentrum Hereon, Fischertwiete 1, D-20095 Hamburg, Germany

Sustainability, 2022, vol. 14, issue 4, 1-19

Abstract: In the past 30 years, there has been a significant increase in drought events in Europe. It is expected that climate change will make droughts more frequent and intense. This situation is particularly concerning for areas with no drought management culture. This study focuses on North East Lower Saxony (NELS), an important agricultural region in northern Germany. We implement a novel approach to Group Model Building to assess the preparedness of NELS to deal with climate change and droughts. Our novel approach includes the creation of a preliminary model based on individual interviews and a triangulation of information after the workshop. We conclude that stakeholders are aware of climate change, but insufficient attention is given to adaptive solutions mainly because they require high initial investments. Given its existing political infrastructure, the region has the potential to adjust. With efficient government bodies are already in place, beneficial updates could be made to established water withdrawal regulations.

Keywords: climate change; climate change adaptation; group model building; agriculture; Lower Saxony; water management (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:4:p:2370-:d:753156

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