Collaborative Governance for the Wider Adoption of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) for  Flood Risk Reduction: Empirical Evidence from New York City

Scholarly attention to Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and green infrastructure has been growing recently as their role in addressing societal challenges such climate change and natural disasters have been recognized. The objective of this dissertation is to examine the challenges and opportunities for wider adoption of NbS for flood risk reduction in New York City (NYC), offering stakeholders actionable insights to facilitate sustainable urban transitions. To scale up NbS projects and maximize their effectiveness in reducing flood risks, this dissertation seeks to understand the key challenges from two different stakeholder groups: experts and the general public. The first part of this dissertation explores experts’ perspectives on the challenges to the adoption of NbS and the key agents involved in NbS implementation through in-depth interviews conducted with 18 experts. Then, this work investigates the public’s attitudes toward NbS from a socio-psychological approach with 302 survey responses collected across NYC. The theoretical framework for these analyses draws on Diffusion of Innovation (DOI) theory, which frames NbS adoption as a three-stage process: awareness, perception, and adoption. Findings from the empirical work on public attitudes toward NbS support this adoption process and reinforce the conceptualization of NbS as an innovative system. These findings also support Protection Motivation Theory (PMT), indicating that threat appraisal for flood risk and positive evaluations of NbS play an important role in the public’s adoption of NbS. Lastly, this work compares and synthesizes findings from two stakeholder perspectives on NbS adoption to inform policy recommendations. The adoption of NbS requires the involvement of multiple stakeholders, including individuals, communities, practitioners, engineers, and government agencies. Accordingly, this dissertation develops an integrated analytical approach combining DOI theory and PMT to analyze public attitudes toward NbS. Ultimately, this work recommends collaborative governance as the overall policy strategy for wider NbS adoption in NYC, structured around four ‘M’ strategies: multiple stakeholders, multiple projects, multiple scales, and multiple locations.

Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) do not receive sufficient attention regarding their energy consumption and the need for technology adoption to improve energy efficiency. However, the majority of SMEs operate in commercial buildings, which contribute to global energy consumption at levels comparable to those of residential buildings. Since buildings are among the world’s second-largest energy consumers, the collective energy use and economic influence of SMEs are substantial and significant.

Technology adoption is one of the most important pathways for improving energy efficiency. However, adopting technologies is generally costly for SMEs, which represent one of the main limitations these organizations encounter. Recent studies have shown that artificial intelligence (AI) technologies can be highly effective in reducing energy consumption. Therefore, policies and institutional support have become vital in enabling SMEs to adopt technologies that enhance energy efficiency. Based on these considerations, this study aims to explore energy efficiency through technology adoption in SMEs, focusing on their practices, socio-cultural dynamics, future intentions, needs, expectations, and policy gaps.

Through three empirical studies, this research identifies the key roles of biospheric values, energy-efficiency responsibility beliefs, and industrial norms in encouraging SMEs to engage in energy-efficient behaviors. While SMEs are generally open to innovation for energy efficiency, they tend to make strategic, pragmatic, and cautious decisions because of internal and external constraints. When they perceive clear benefits from AI technologies, they develop positive intentions to adopt them; however, positive intentions do not always translate into actual adoption decisions due to financial, organizational, and external barriers. SMEs are also not a homogeneous group in terms of energy efficiency and technology adoption. Some rely only on smart technologies, some only on green practices, some on both, and others on neither. What SMEs need in the policy landscape are economic incentives combined with stronger communication, outreach, and educational strategies.

Date: October 6, 2026 Program: Technology, Policy, and Innovation
Time: 11am Dissertation, Old Computer Science room 1310
Dissertation Advisor: Elizabeth L. Hewitt