Mapping Adaptation Knowledge for Atlantic Resilient Islands

Objective

MAKARIOS addresses two key gaps on climate adaptation research in Europe: the lack of attention to sub-national island jurisdictions (SNIJ), despite their vulnerability, and the underrepresentation of the social sciences, especially in locally based research. The main goal is to map the adaptation capabilities of these archipelagos, generating qualitative insights and socioeconomic indicators to complement current vulnerability assessments. The project explores cultures of adaptation in the Macaronesia, aiming to contribute for a just resilience in the EU outermost regions, as well as for just adaptation policies. MAKARIOS brings together the approaches of human capabilities and climate adaptation into the novel analytical framework of adaptation capabilities. Based on two case studies on the Azores and the Canary Islands, it combines the analysis of archives with life history interviews to uncover the resilience pathways that supported human settlement on these islands. Additional interviews and focus groups will examine the relationship between planned and autonomous adaptation, including governance challenges. The researcher will be based at Universidad de La Laguna, leader on multiple EU-funded adaptation projects, and will contribute to the first Macaronesia Adaptation Strategy. The supervisor Abel Díez is President of the Expert Committee of the Canary Islands 2030 Agenda and was reviewer for the IPCC AR6. A secondment at University of Azores will support fieldwork on these islands, strengthening the articulation between the case studies, supervised by Helena Calado, an experienced professor involved in interdisciplinary projects on climate resilience in this archipelago. The MSCA fellow has experience in field research, in outermost and developing regions, and in leading research at the EU level. MAKARIOS is a stepping stone in building her own research line on island adaptation in the Atlantic, as well as networks with third countries such as Cabo Verde.