Despite the current era of policy dismantling, climate change polices in general and climate change adaptation policies in particular are being adopted by European governments at a rapid pace. Since 2005, the number recorded adaptation measures in the EU has jumped from roughly 400 to well over 1000 and in the same period nearly every member state has taken up the mantle of adaptation, developing policies and procedures for its implementation. In light of this dynamic activity an interesting question that arises is what are the driving forces behind the rapid diffusion of adaptation policies across Europe? Despite the plethora of work surrounding policy innovation and diffusion, to date, no empirical study has been conducted for climate change adaptation. This article offers to fill this gap. In it we attempt to empirically understand the drivers, dynamics, barriers and outcomes of adaptation policy in Europe. The work herein is based upon data from a survey of 27 European countries. Using an internal vs. external determinants approach, this paper hypothesizes that adaptation has primarily been driven by external factors such as progress in other countries and the push for adaptation in the international community as opposed to a collective self awareness of the need for adaptation. What we find however, is that the majority of countries were motivated by their perceived need to adapt coupled with a push from the international community. Additionally, this paper takes the common understanding that policy invention, the creation of something new, can lead to cross border policy innovation and turns the concept around. Specifically, it argues that with the case of adaptation, its innovation and diffusion across Europe has led to the invention of a new, never before seen policy field in leading innovative countries.
