Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation in Infrastructure Planning—Lessons Learned from Knowledge Transfer and Communication

Incorporating climate change (CC) impacts and adaptation into planning and development of large-scale infrastructure projects is facilitated by a wide range of international and national guidance material, but is still a challenge, as several studies point out. A number of guidance documents and studies show that Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) could provide a good entry point for incorporating considerations of CC impacts and adaptation into project planning. This paper presents results of a research project aimed at developing recommendations for mainstreaming CC into EIA. Multiple levels of “knowledge brokerage” were undertaken in an actors-based participatory approach. The different formats, which all ensured diverse levels of interaction (knowledge brokerage), proved to be beneficial both regarding the exchange of know-how as well as raising awareness for the consideration of CC in EIA. This paper discusses benefits of knowledge brokerage processes as well as limitations to the mainstreaming of CC in project planning.