Abstract for: Effectiveness of collaborative modeling for promoting green climate change adaptation measures in the setting of Public-Private

This paper evaluates the process and outcomes of building a system dynamics model with experts from different organizations that are interested in acquiring a multidisciplinary understanding of green climate change adaptation measures in the setting of Public-Private-Partnerships (PPP’s). Literature has extensively documented how Group Model Building (GMB) promotes team learning, fosters consensus and creates commitment with a resulting decision on real problems and hypothetical cases. In this opportunity, the analysis of GMB effectiveness is carried out for an intervention aimed at addressing a knowledge gap using a hypothetical case study with partners with different disciplinary and organizational backgrounds. The outcome model was a “return on investment model” for a hybrid-engineering solution for restoring environmental and morphodynamic conditions along eroding low-lying coastlines in a Public-Private-Partnership profit of payment. In spite of alteration, outcomes of the building process suggest that participants increased their insights about the problem, communication, shared vision and commitment. Assessment of mental model change suggests no change of attitudes towards investing in green adaption projects, but a higher sense of behavioral control in terms of being actually able to define what the return on investment is.