Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations

Winfred Abdulai Nelson; Clifford Amoako; Rudith King; Philip Antwi-Agyei; Samuel Kwofie

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11

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Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations

Winfred Abdulai Nelson, Clifford Amoako, Rudith King, Philip Antwi-Agyei, Samuel Kwofie

Published in American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering (Volume 6, Issue 4)

Received: 28 August 2022 Accepted: 18 October 2022 Published: 28 October 2022

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Abstract

Rooted in the concept of adaptation are change, action, stimulus, means and end. Whilst these elements are fundamental in clarifying the complex actor relationships surrounding adaptation, literature has tended to concentrate on the end (adaptation practice). Inherent in the provisions of interventions aimed at minimizing the specific impacts of climate change is the notion that adaptation will be automatically triggered. This article, which focuses on concepts and theories, argues that adaptation is more than mere action or what is usually described as the end. Using the Theory of Action (ToA) and the Framework for Analyzing Climate Change Adaptation as Actions (FACCAA), this article attempts to clarify the relationships between the key terminologies and contributes to knowledge on the adaptation discourse. Using empirical shreds of evidence from the Talensi District, the article underscores the proposition that water interventions are not necessarily adaptation practices neither are they automatic activators of adaptation. They are rather means expected to propel action for adaptation. The article concludes that elements, such as change, action, and means, are of equal importance as the popularly documented adaptation practice (end). All the elements deserve equal attention to unravel the complexities underpinning the concept of adaptation.

Published in	American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering (Volume 6, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11
Page(s)	155-164
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Adaptation, Action, Means and End, Change, Water Interventions

References

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Winfred Abdulai Nelson, Clifford Amoako, Rudith King, Philip Antwi-Agyei, Samuel Kwofie. (2022). Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations. American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, 6(4), 155-164. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11

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Winfred Abdulai Nelson; Clifford Amoako; Rudith King; Philip Antwi-Agyei; Samuel Kwofie. Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations. Am. J. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2022, 6(4), 155-164. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11

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AMA Style

Winfred Abdulai Nelson, Clifford Amoako, Rudith King, Philip Antwi-Agyei, Samuel Kwofie. Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations. Am J Environ Sci Eng. 2022;6(4):155-164. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11

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@article{10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11,
  author = {Winfred Abdulai Nelson and Clifford Amoako and Rudith King and Philip Antwi-Agyei and Samuel Kwofie},
  title = {Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {155-164},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajese.20220604.11},
  abstract = {Rooted in the concept of adaptation are change, action, stimulus, means and end. Whilst these elements are fundamental in clarifying the complex actor relationships surrounding adaptation, literature has tended to concentrate on the end (adaptation practice). Inherent in the provisions of interventions aimed at minimizing the specific impacts of climate change is the notion that adaptation will be automatically triggered. This article, which focuses on concepts and theories, argues that adaptation is more than mere action or what is usually described as the end. Using the Theory of Action (ToA) and the Framework for Analyzing Climate Change Adaptation as Actions (FACCAA), this article attempts to clarify the relationships between the key terminologies and contributes to knowledge on the adaptation discourse. Using empirical shreds of evidence from the Talensi District, the article underscores the proposition that water interventions are not necessarily adaptation practices neither are they automatic activators of adaptation. They are rather means expected to propel action for adaptation. The article concludes that elements, such as change, action, and means, are of equal importance as the popularly documented adaptation practice (end). All the elements deserve equal attention to unravel the complexities underpinning the concept of adaptation.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations
AU  - Winfred Abdulai Nelson
AU  - Clifford Amoako
AU  - Rudith King
AU  - Philip Antwi-Agyei
AU  - Samuel Kwofie
Y1  - 2022/10/28
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11
T2  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
SP  - 155
EP  - 164
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-7993
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11
AB  - Rooted in the concept of adaptation are change, action, stimulus, means and end. Whilst these elements are fundamental in clarifying the complex actor relationships surrounding adaptation, literature has tended to concentrate on the end (adaptation practice). Inherent in the provisions of interventions aimed at minimizing the specific impacts of climate change is the notion that adaptation will be automatically triggered. This article, which focuses on concepts and theories, argues that adaptation is more than mere action or what is usually described as the end. Using the Theory of Action (ToA) and the Framework for Analyzing Climate Change Adaptation as Actions (FACCAA), this article attempts to clarify the relationships between the key terminologies and contributes to knowledge on the adaptation discourse. Using empirical shreds of evidence from the Talensi District, the article underscores the proposition that water interventions are not necessarily adaptation practices neither are they automatic activators of adaptation. They are rather means expected to propel action for adaptation. The article concludes that elements, such as change, action, and means, are of equal importance as the popularly documented adaptation practice (end). All the elements deserve equal attention to unravel the complexities underpinning the concept of adaptation.
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
ER  -

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Author Information

Winfred Abdulai Nelson

National Development Planning Commission, Accra, Ghana
Clifford Amoako

Department of Planning, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Rudith King

Centre for Settlement Studies, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Philip Antwi-Agyei

Department of Environmental Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
Samuel Kwofie

General Studies Department, Koforidua Technical University, Koforidua, Ghana

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APA Style

Winfred Abdulai Nelson, Clifford Amoako, Rudith King, Philip Antwi-Agyei, Samuel Kwofie. (2022). Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations. American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering, 6(4), 155-164. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11

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ACS Style

Winfred Abdulai Nelson; Clifford Amoako; Rudith King; Philip Antwi-Agyei; Samuel Kwofie. Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations. Am. J. Environ. Sci. Eng. 2022, 6(4), 155-164. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11

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AMA Style

Winfred Abdulai Nelson, Clifford Amoako, Rudith King, Philip Antwi-Agyei, Samuel Kwofie. Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations. Am J Environ Sci Eng. 2022;6(4):155-164. doi: 10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11,
  author = {Winfred Abdulai Nelson and Clifford Amoako and Rudith King and Philip Antwi-Agyei and Samuel Kwofie},
  title = {Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations},
  journal = {American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering},
  volume = {6},
  number = {4},
  pages = {155-164},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajese.20220604.11},
  abstract = {Rooted in the concept of adaptation are change, action, stimulus, means and end. Whilst these elements are fundamental in clarifying the complex actor relationships surrounding adaptation, literature has tended to concentrate on the end (adaptation practice). Inherent in the provisions of interventions aimed at minimizing the specific impacts of climate change is the notion that adaptation will be automatically triggered. This article, which focuses on concepts and theories, argues that adaptation is more than mere action or what is usually described as the end. Using the Theory of Action (ToA) and the Framework for Analyzing Climate Change Adaptation as Actions (FACCAA), this article attempts to clarify the relationships between the key terminologies and contributes to knowledge on the adaptation discourse. Using empirical shreds of evidence from the Talensi District, the article underscores the proposition that water interventions are not necessarily adaptation practices neither are they automatic activators of adaptation. They are rather means expected to propel action for adaptation. The article concludes that elements, such as change, action, and means, are of equal importance as the popularly documented adaptation practice (end). All the elements deserve equal attention to unravel the complexities underpinning the concept of adaptation.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Adaptation as a Means to an End: Conceptual Underpinnings and Empirical Affirmations
AU  - Winfred Abdulai Nelson
AU  - Clifford Amoako
AU  - Rudith King
AU  - Philip Antwi-Agyei
AU  - Samuel Kwofie
Y1  - 2022/10/28
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11
T2  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
JF  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
JO  - American Journal of Environmental Science and Engineering
SP  - 155
EP  - 164
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2578-7993
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajese.20220604.11
AB  - Rooted in the concept of adaptation are change, action, stimulus, means and end. Whilst these elements are fundamental in clarifying the complex actor relationships surrounding adaptation, literature has tended to concentrate on the end (adaptation practice). Inherent in the provisions of interventions aimed at minimizing the specific impacts of climate change is the notion that adaptation will be automatically triggered. This article, which focuses on concepts and theories, argues that adaptation is more than mere action or what is usually described as the end. Using the Theory of Action (ToA) and the Framework for Analyzing Climate Change Adaptation as Actions (FACCAA), this article attempts to clarify the relationships between the key terminologies and contributes to knowledge on the adaptation discourse. Using empirical shreds of evidence from the Talensi District, the article underscores the proposition that water interventions are not necessarily adaptation practices neither are they automatic activators of adaptation. They are rather means expected to propel action for adaptation. The article concludes that elements, such as change, action, and means, are of equal importance as the popularly documented adaptation practice (end). All the elements deserve equal attention to unravel the complexities underpinning the concept of adaptation.
VL  - 6
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download