Mapping institutional interactions in the Canadian CCA and DRR landscape: an exploratory social network analysis
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Issue Date
2023-07-11
Editor
Authors
Séguin, Daniel
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Abstract
Canada is experiencing increased frequency and intensity of natural hazards from widespread and rapid changes to its weather, surrounding oceans, biosphere, and atmosphere. Recently, the IPCC urged that swift and coordinated international action was necessary to avoid the increasingly devastating consequences of climate change and irreversible risks should the world be unable to change course. However, while all levels of government and many institutions actively respond through Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) and Climate Change Adaptation (CCA) activities, international evidence suggests that the fields are working in silos and not coordinating with one another at the cost of effectiveness and efficiency.
In response, this study undertook an exploratory Social Network Analysis (SNA) to understand the current degree of DRR and CCA integration in Canada by visualizing their network and relations, identifying key actors, and surfacing clusters to make recommendations on increasing network effectiveness.
The key findings demonstrated that CCA and DRR organizations in Canada operate in silos. Further, a mix of federal government departments and non-profit organizations were central in the network, listing information collecting, organization, analysis, and dissemination as their organizational mandates. Results also demonstrated that risk management and climate-related data outputs are common ground between the two fields. Finally, the results revealed clusters within the current network. Overall, this study demonstrated relevant and significant opportunities in Canada to increase the integration of the CCA and DRR network to improve efficiencies of climate-related mitigation and adaptation activities.