ADAPTING CITIES TO CLIMATE CHANGE ■ 217offi ce of the mayor, as discussed in the case of São Paulo. Th is reinforces the
interdepartmental character of climate impacts.
Finally, enhancing fi nancial capacities seems to play a role in driving adapta-
tion responses, but to a lesser degree than one would have expected. Among the
eight cases, none of the local action plans has relied on external fi nancial assis-
tance. Expanding fi nancial capacity has been an issue in Delhi in relation to the
Clean Development Mechanism. At the national level Colombia has benefi ted
from fi nancial assistance in drawing up the national framework.
Constraints on Adaptation
With respect to adaptation constraints, several lessons arise from the expe-
riences of Bogota, Pearl River Delta, Pune, and Santiago, as well as from the
“early” movers Cape Town, Delhi, and Singapore.
First, we observe very limited levels of awareness with regard to the relevance
of climate change for local conditions. In addition, local offi cials contacted in
surveys tend not to recognize or promote the potential connection between
climate change and existing development goals. Nor do they make reference
to the potential of adaptation planning to address other priorities. In general,
adaptation to climate change is not seen as relevant for the local development
agenda. Where these links are reported, they are related to carbon dioxide miti-
gation, which local offi cials view as the major response. Overall, adaptation
does not play a prominent role. Th is perception is mirrored in the opinion held
by the public. Awareness is low, and climate change, let alone the need to adapt
to its consequences, is not viewed as a problem associated with local urban
development or connected to personal consumption patterns, not even in the
emerging middle classes.
Second, the existing defi nition and distribution of political competences and
responsibilities are reported to be inadequate. Th is observation relates to the local
versus national level and likewise to the distribution of responsibilities between
the various subnational entities. In all cases, respondents report a multilevel
coordination problem with overlapping competences resulting in weak politi-
cal competences. Although numerous coordination units between these entities
exist, they are not defi ned by a clear division of competences that empower the
responsible level. Adaptation to climate change is harder to achieve in such a set-
ting, because the interests of the diff erent entities tend to ignore those of others
or to create confl ict—and do not allow an overall planning process.
A third obstacle is the limited competence for managing fi nancial resources
at the local level. Even in the cities where local action plans are in place, they
do not (with the exception of Cape Town) contain dedicated fi nancing mech-
anisms. More broadly, a mismatch is reported between the requirement of