Introduction

This book examines the approaches to climate change adaptation in water governance taken by South Korea and Germany. By comparing their political decision-making processes, this book explores the factors behind their differences.

Importance of Water and Climate Change

Adaptation to the changing climate is critical to human society and water is the principal medium through which climate change will affect us. Due to high levels of industrialization and population density, flood control is a high priority in both countries’ adaptation plans.

Comparison of Strategies

While South Korea has maintained its engineering-oriented flood control policy for river management, Germany has turned its direction from its long-standing technical approach to more nature-based solutions.

Findings and Implications

The evidence of this study indicates that policy change and stability is the result of discourse and institutional interaction, and thus emphasizes the validity of discursive institutionalism. This book will clearly explain why certain policies are adopted for water management and will be an invaluable contribution to the expanding literature on the socio-political aspects of climate change adaptation.