Abstract
This study evaluates a co-production of knowledge (CPK) process for developing climate change adaptation (CCA) indicators for measuring and assessing adaptation progress tailored to diverse municipal contexts. The CPK process involved 10 small to medium-sized Norwegian municipalities and consisted of iterative cycles of municipal homework, joint workshops, and researcher-led revisions of an initial indicator set. Using a mixed-method evaluation framework, we assessed both the CPK process and four expected outcomes: usable and relevant indicators, cross-departmental collaboration, anchoring of CCA in municipal practice, and intermunicipal knowledge exchange. The results show improvements in indicator usability and municipal CCA knowledge, and modest gains in interdisciplinary collaboration. However, limited municipal resources, discontinuous participation, and weak political and institutional anchoring constrained longer-term outcomes. The study highlights key design considerations for CPK with resource-constrained local authorities, including a strong focus on engagement and familiarity early on, fostering cross-participant mentorship, and supporting long-term network building.
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Acknowledgements
L.H., E.Sa., K.K., E.Si. and K.G. disclose support for the research of this work from RFF Vestland (grant number 322875). L.H., E.Sa., K.K., E.Si. and I.D. disclose support for the research of this work from the Norwegian Environment Agency. The authors would like to thank the project partners for their insights on the research and the manuscript. The authors would also like to extend gratitude to Prof. Dr.-Ing. Birte Frommer, Luise Spieker, and the other participants in the Special Collection Writers Workshop for excellent discussions and feedback.
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Henke, L., Sandberg, E., Knoth, K. et al. Co-producing climate change adaptation indicators with small Norwegian municipalities. npj Clim. Action (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-026-00386-y
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-026-00386-y
