Abstract/Summary

Country ownership of climate change adaptation is a key criteria that defines engagement of LDCs in the international climate finance landscape. Country owned actions reflect LDCs adaptation priorities and needs. Climate justice is achieved when countries that are particularly vulnerable to climate change risks are prioritised in resource allocation to support climate change adaptation. The thesis applies a climate justice and equity lens to existing literature on country ownership and finds limited clarity on knowledge relating to country ownership of what and for whom, with existing assessments biased towards the national and international levels. This thesis investigates whether country ownership principles enable equitable intra-state adaptation i.e. adaptation that addresses local level adaptation needs and reduces the vulnerabilities of local level communities most impacted by climate change. Power is considered inherent to adaptation processes within states. The thesis constructs a conceptual framework of power and influence and applies it to a case study of a Least Developed Countries Fundfunded coastal adaptation project in Tanzania. Qualitative and quantitative data through project document and policy reviews, key informant interviews, questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion in three case study locations. Findings indicate that country ownership does not guarantee that local level vulnerabilities will be addressed. The thesis finds: a) the presence of government control of adaptation finance as preventing stakeholder ownership; b) the failure of country owned adaptation actions to reflect the priorities of local level communities who are most vulnerable to climate change and; c) limited ability of actions that work through local level stakeholders to meaningfully engage local populations that are affected by climate risks. The findings suggest that existing approaches to (international) climate change governance may be replicating injustices across scales and increasing local level vulnerability.