Co-Production for Equitable Governance in Community Climate Adaptation: Neighborhood Resilience in Houston, Texas

Abstract

As urban areas grapple with the pressing impacts of climate change, fostering community-level resilience becomes imperative. Co-production, emphasizing active stakeholder engagement, offers a pathway to robust, equitable, and inclusive adaptation strategies. This article delves into the co-production processes within neighborhood resilience planning in Houston, Texas, revealing how collaboration between communities, planners, and municipal leaders can address climate vulnerabilities and support disadvantaged groups. Through an empirical analysis of three Houston neighborhoods, the study evaluates co-production’s role in promoting neighborhood-scale adaptive capacity and reshaping power dynamics to advance equity and environmental justice. The results highlight the significance of local institutions and the necessity of municipal commitment to co-production efforts. The study contributes actionable insights on the application of co-production in neighborhood climate adaptation, emphasizing the need for direct municipal engagement to implement transformative spatial projects and rebalance governance frameworks for effective climate action.