Climate Change alters the conditions of our social system fundamentally. It affects all economic sectors and has an influence on social life in all its contexts. Based on an analysis of German adaptation policy a conceptual description of adaptive capacity in Germany will be developed and confirmed by empirical findings. As an example for adaptive capacity the construction and housing sector will be examined. Using this example, guiding principles for a climate resilient Germany are devised and paths to climate resilience are derived via backcasting. The development of guiding principles is based on an analysis of social change processes, integration recent findings from social transition research. Finally the project provides recommendations how the adaptation policy of the German government can promote adaptive capacity and guide the way for a climate resilient society.

Topic: Environmental Policy and Governance, Climate and Energy, Sustainable Corporate Governance, Participation and Communication

Research field: Corporate Environmental Management, Ecological Economics and Environmental Policy, Sustainable Energy and Climate Protection