Adaptive capacity beyond the household: a systematic review of empirical social-ecological research

Abstract The concept of adaptive capacity has received significant attention within social-ecological and environmental change research. Within both the resilience vulnerability literatures specifically, emerged as a fundamental for assessing ability systems to adapt change. Although methods indicators used evaluate are broad, focus existing scholarship predominately been at individual- household- levels. However, capacities necessary humans global often function individual societal characteristics, well cumulative emergent across communities jurisdictions. In this paper, we apply systematic literature review co-citation analysis investigate empirical research on that levels beyond household. Our demonstrates assessments higher increasing in frequency, yet vary widely approach, framing, results; analyses many different (e.g. community, municipality, region), geographic locations, cover multiple types disturbances their impacts sectors. We also found there considerable challenges with regard ‘fit’ between data collected analytical adequately capturing cross-scale cross-level determinants capacity. Current approaches household tend simply aggregate or household-level data, which argue oversimplifies ignores inherent interactions decision-making shape scales. order future be more practice-oriented effectively guide policy, is need develop matched potential policy applications.