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Cited by 73Sustainability and Climate Change GovernanceClimate Change and Sustainable DevelopmentClimate Change Policy and Economics

The DOI matches its Crossref record; 82 of the 87 references it cites were found in a registry or an index.

Tracing back to move ahead: a review of development pathways that constrain adaptation futures

Gajjar, Sumetee Pahwa, Singh, Chandni, Deshpande, Tanvi·2019·Climate and Development
DOI 10.1080/17565529.2018.1442793
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Abstract

Exponents of transformation in the context of climate change strongly articulate the challenges associated with switching from current, potentially maladaptive development trajectories, onto future pathways that are climate responsive. Although scholarship on maladaptation highlights the dangers of path dependency, the concept is under-applied for understanding the potential outcomes of development trajectories that result in what we call an adaptation-constrained space. By conducting case-study analysis based on secondary review, we trace implications of particular development trajectories, in urban and rural India. The first case examines how urbanization in Bangalore city has decreased the capacity to respond to concurrent risks of flooding and water scarcity while the second charts how agricultural policies in India have narrowed local capacity to deal with climatic and non-climatic uncertainties. Using a historical perspective, we identify triggers of change in local and regional development, which have led to an adaptation-constrained space. We find that both pathways display irreversible lock-ins and inherent trade-offs which entrench inequities (through differential capacity and agency to access resources and influence future development). We argue that such development pathways are potentially maladaptive. Whether they are expected to deal with climate impacts or to meet development goals, the fact that they constrain current and future adaptive capacity at multiple levels, is why we consider them maladaptive. As India undertakes large investments in development and climate change adaptation, this paper adds to the relatively low policy debate on how development trajectories, physically and socially, limit the possibilities for future adaptation. We propose that policy-makers and planners first acknowledge how development trajectories acquire dominance, and then begin empowering normative alternatives that open future adaptation options.

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  • For Indian cities, Gajjar et al. warns against path dependency leading to maladaptation.

    “For Indian cities, Gajjar et al. (81) warns against path dependency leading to maladaptation.”

    From Global synthesis and regional insights for mainstreaming urban nature-based solutions (2025) · cites this paper as [81]

  • National policies such as the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation or the Smart Cities Mission tend to focus on infrastructural and technological solutions.

    “Yet, national policies such as the Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation or the Smart Cities Mission tend to focus on infrastructural and technological solutions (81, 102).”

    From Global synthesis and regional insights for mainstreaming urban nature-based solutions (2025) · cites this paper as [81]

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5 of the 87 references couldn’t be matched to a known paper.

Research works printed but not linked: 23

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Metadata

Authors
Gajjar, S. P., Singh, C., & Deshpande, T.
Affiliations
Indian Institute for Human Settlements (IN)
Corresponding author
Singh, Chandni
ORCID
Venue
Climate and Development
Publisher
Informa UK Limited
Published
2018-03-12
Volume
11
Issue
3
Pages
223-237
ISSN
  • 1756-5529 (ISSN-L)
  • 1756-5537
DOI
10.1080/17565529.2018.1442793
OpenAlex
W2789549682
Cited by
73
References
87
Citations by year
2026: 7 · 2025: 11 · 2024: 11 · 2023: 9 · 2022: 12 · 2021: 13 · 2020: 4 · 2019: 4 · 2018: 2
FWCI
3.37
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
Climate and Development (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Department for International Development
  • International Development Research Centre
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Sustainability and Climate Change Governance
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Global and Planetary Change › Climate Change and Sustainable Development
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Climate Change Policy and Economics
Keywords
climate change adaptation, maladaptation, developmental trajectories, path dependence, lock-in, adaptive capacity, urbanization, urban flooding, water scarcity, agricultural policy, India, Bangalore, rural India, urban India, inequity, development pathways

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