Connecting the present to the future: The potential of urban adaptation imaginaries

Local priorities shape the way urban adaptation to climate change is envisioned. Yet processes to capture these priorities often overlook the power dynamics behind structural vulnerabilities. Approaches to positive futures thinking that are transdisciplinary offer a way to centre local communities i...

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores: Lewis, W., Olazabal, M., Amorim-Maia, A.T., Loroño-Leturiondo, M.
Tipo de recurso: artículo
Fecha de publicación:2025
País:España
Institución:Universidad del País Vasco
Repositorio:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
OAI Identifier:oai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/76537
Acceso en línea:http://hdl.handle.net/10810/76537
Access Level:acceso abierto
Palabra clave:learning
positive futures thinking
relationality
social justice
transdisciplinarity
urban adaptation imaginaries
urban climate adaptation
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spelling Connecting the present to the future: The potential of urban adaptation imaginariesLewis, W.Olazabal, M.Amorim-Maia, A.T.Loroño-Leturiondo, M.learningpositive futures thinkingrelationalitysocial justicetransdisciplinarityurban adaptation imaginariesurban climate adaptationLocal priorities shape the way urban adaptation to climate change is envisioned. Yet processes to capture these priorities often overlook the power dynamics behind structural vulnerabilities. Approaches to positive futures thinking that are transdisciplinary offer a way to centre local communities in the process. However, these approaches are often limited as communities struggle to conceive climate change beyond their known realities and lived experiences, creating a disconnect between the present and future. We introduce the concept of ‘urban adaptation imaginaries’ to connect futures thinking to real-world social, political, and environmental contexts. Through a critical review, we argue this concept supports urban adaptation decision-making by emphasising its socio-political and relational dimensions, and by addressing the fragmentation and abstraction common in adaptation discourse about the future. We identify three key contributions: (1) fostering context-sensitive adaptation; (2) prioritising justice and inclusivity; and (3) enabling iterative learning processes. To support this, we highlight creative methods such as arts-based approaches, and storytelling to help make climate futures more accessible, grounded, and transformative.The authors disclosed receipt of the following financial support for the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article: This research is funded by the European Union (ERC, IMAGINE adaptation, 101039429). Views and opinions expressed are, however, those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or ERCEA. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them. All authors acknowledge the support from María de Maeztu Excellence Unit 2023-2027 Ref. CEX2021-001201-M, funded by the Spanish Government MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033; and by the Basque Government through the BERC 2022-2025 program. MO would also like to acknowledge the support of the grant RYC2022-037585-I funded by MICIU/AEI/10.13039/501100011033 and ESF+.Urban StudiesEuropean Commission202520252025info:eu-repo/semantics/articleapplication/pdfhttp://hdl.handle.net/10810/76537reponame:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigacióninstname:Universidad del País VascoInglésinfo:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/ERC/101039429info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICIU/CEX2021-001201-M/info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICIU/RYC2022-037585-I/https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00420980251393606info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccesshttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/es/© Urban Studies Journal Limited 2025.Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 3.0 Españaoai:addi.ehu.eus:10810/765372026-06-18T09:23:17Z
dc.title.none.fl_str_mv Connecting the present to the future: The potential of urban adaptation imaginaries
title Connecting the present to the future: The potential of urban adaptation imaginaries
spellingShingle Connecting the present to the future: The potential of urban adaptation imaginaries
Lewis, W.
learning
positive futures thinking
relationality
social justice
transdisciplinarity
urban adaptation imaginaries
urban climate adaptation
title_short Connecting the present to the future: The potential of urban adaptation imaginaries
title_full Connecting the present to the future: The potential of urban adaptation imaginaries
title_fullStr Connecting the present to the future: The potential of urban adaptation imaginaries
title_full_unstemmed Connecting the present to the future: The potential of urban adaptation imaginaries
title_sort Connecting the present to the future: The potential of urban adaptation imaginaries
dc.creator.none.fl_str_mv Lewis, W.
Olazabal, M.
Amorim-Maia, A.T.
Loroño-Leturiondo, M.
author Lewis, W.
author_facet Lewis, W.
Olazabal, M.
Amorim-Maia, A.T.
Loroño-Leturiondo, M.
author_role author
author2 Olazabal, M.
Amorim-Maia, A.T.
Loroño-Leturiondo, M.
author2_role author
author
author
dc.contributor.none.fl_str_mv European Commission
dc.subject.none.fl_str_mv learning
positive futures thinking
relationality
social justice
transdisciplinarity
urban adaptation imaginaries
urban climate adaptation
topic learning
positive futures thinking
relationality
social justice
transdisciplinarity
urban adaptation imaginaries
urban climate adaptation
description Local priorities shape the way urban adaptation to climate change is envisioned. Yet processes to capture these priorities often overlook the power dynamics behind structural vulnerabilities. Approaches to positive futures thinking that are transdisciplinary offer a way to centre local communities in the process. However, these approaches are often limited as communities struggle to conceive climate change beyond their known realities and lived experiences, creating a disconnect between the present and future. We introduce the concept of ‘urban adaptation imaginaries’ to connect futures thinking to real-world social, political, and environmental contexts. Through a critical review, we argue this concept supports urban adaptation decision-making by emphasising its socio-political and relational dimensions, and by addressing the fragmentation and abstraction common in adaptation discourse about the future. We identify three key contributions: (1) fostering context-sensitive adaptation; (2) prioritising justice and inclusivity; and (3) enabling iterative learning processes. To support this, we highlight creative methods such as arts-based approaches, and storytelling to help make climate futures more accessible, grounded, and transformative.
publishDate 2025
dc.date.none.fl_str_mv 2025
2025
2025
dc.type.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/article
format article
dc.identifier.none.fl_str_mv http://hdl.handle.net/10810/76537
url http://hdl.handle.net/10810/76537
dc.language.none.fl_str_mv Inglés
language_invalid_str_mv Inglés
dc.relation.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/EC/ERC/101039429
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICIU/CEX2021-001201-M/
info:eu-repo/grantAgreement/MICIU/RYC2022-037585-I/
https://dx.doi.org/10.1177/00420980251393606
dc.rights.none.fl_str_mv info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/es/
© Urban Studies Journal Limited 2025.
Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 3.0 España
eu_rights_str_mv openAccess
rights_invalid_str_mv http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/3.0/es/
© Urban Studies Journal Limited 2025.
Atribución-NoComercial-CompartirIgual 3.0 España
dc.format.none.fl_str_mv application/pdf
dc.publisher.none.fl_str_mv Urban Studies
publisher.none.fl_str_mv Urban Studies
dc.source.none.fl_str_mv reponame:Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
instname:Universidad del País Vasco
instname_str Universidad del País Vasco
reponame_str Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
collection Addi. Archivo Digital para la Docencia y la Investigación
repository.name.fl_str_mv
repository.mail.fl_str_mv
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