Deeper understanding of the barriers to national climate adaptation policy: the case of South Korea

As climate change adaptation has become essential for the sustainable development of nations, national adaptation policies have increasingly been adopted and implemented over the past decade. However, an adaptation gap is observable and getting wider. We investigate the barriers to national adaptation policy and their origins, influence as well as relationships between them in South Korea. We also analyse used and suggested solutions to overcome the barriers. Based on interviews with core stakeholders, we find 49 factors (16 barriers, 14 origins, 19 influences) related to barriers to national adaptation policy and draw a barrier map that shows all factors and relationships between them. We also explain how the barriers occur and how they affect national adaptation policy by mapping the relationships between barriers, origins, and influences. Key barriers to Korea’s national adaptation policy are related to institutions, fragmentation, and resources. With an analysis of used/suggested solutions, we conclude by suggesting a procedure for diagnosing problems of national adaptation policy, understanding related barriers and origins, and devising practical solutions for national policymakers and stakeholders.