Contesting “climate solutionism”: Critical perspectives from the water-climate nexus

Climate change is unequivocally contributing to local, regional, and global hydrosocial change with life-altering impacts. Mitigation activities and funding for adaptation are not prioritized, especially by countries that have contributed the most to climate change. Where implemented actions exist, they are often circumscribed by the practice of “climate solutionism”—a concept we deepen. Solutionism collapses immeasurably complex and multi-sectoral climate risks into single-issue challenges solvable through techno-managerial “fixes.” This practice excludes the diverse experiences of climate change, limiting the potential for social and economic transformations to reduce climate-related risks for those most affected. Cases of climate solutionism from the water-climate nexus are illustrated. Solutionism restricts the problem space in ways that make climate change “solvable” through technical and market-based fixes.