Drawing on concepts in political economy, political ecology, justice theory, and critical development studies, the authors offer the first comprehensive, systematic exploration of the ways in which adaptation projects can produce unintended, undesirable results.

1. Introduction to the Political Economy of Climate Change Adaptation 2. Bamboo Thumping Bandits: The Political Economy of Climate Adaptation in Bangladesh 3. Degraded Seascapes: The Political Economy of the Dutch Delta Works 4. Bloated Bodies: The Political Economy of Hurricane Katrina Recovery 5. The Perils of Climate Diplomacy: The Political Economy of the UNFCCC 6. Principles and Best Practices for Climate Change Adaptation 7. Insights from Political Economy for Adaptation Policy and Practice

'Candidly recognizing that even the best-intended acts may harm some, this book should open eyes and minds in ways we desperately need.' - Professor Michael Dworkin, Vermont Law School, USA 'Drawing on case studies from around the world, this important book provides much-needed insights on the political dimensions of designing and implementing adaptations to climate change.' - Professor Karen O'Brien, University of Oslo, Norway 'This book will make an important, if controversial, contribution to the scholarship on adaptation to climate change.' - Dr Saleem Huq, International Institute for Environment and Development, Independent University, Bangladesh 'This is not yet another book on adaptation policy: this book is about the 'real world' of local, national and global adaptation politics.' - Professor Richard J. T. Klein, Stockholm Environment Institute, Sweden 'Based on rigorous political-economic analysis and carefully crafted case studies, the authors demonstrate the successes and shortcomings of existing adaptation strategies.' - Professor Robert Falker, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK