Patterns and gaps in co-benefit reporting in global adaptation research

Abstract Adaptations to extreme weather events are increasing in prevalence across the globe. Adaptation actions can produce co-benefits, which are ancillary positive outcomes beyond the primary objectives of reducing risk and enhancing resilience. Despite growing attention to co-benefits in the adaptation literature, systematic analyses across adaptation types, sectors, actors, and regions remain limited. This study uses the global adaptation mapping initiative database to investigate the associations between adaptation characteristics and the presence of co-benefits. We processed and coded 1684 articles, to categorize co-benefits and analyzed them alongside other adaptation characteristics through descriptive statistics, chi-squared tests, and logistic regressions. We found generally weak associations between adaptation characteristics and the presence of co-benefits. Further, the regression results showed that there were no significant differences between the associations with co-benefits of adaptations that occur across economic sectors. Ecosystem based responses were found to be more likely to be associated with the presence of co-benefits than human behavioral based responses. Technical or infrastructural responses were found to be less likely to be associated with co-benefits than human behavioral responses. Additionally, while some of the chi-squared associations and regression associations trended together, they also differed leading to ambiguity in the types of adaptations that often have co-benefits present. These findings highlight the need for improved co-benefit assessment frameworks and enhanced co-benefit documentation. Enhanced documentation could better inform adaptation planning and maximize the ancillary benefits of adaptation actions.