Do the Core Concerns of Climate Adaptation Policies and Studies Align?—A Comparative Review of Policy Documents and the Literature

A comparative review of the alignment between climate adaptation policies and studies helps identify and narrow their gaps, thereby enhancing the effectiveness of climate adaptation actions in the human settlements. This study systematically traced the development of policies and studies to reveal the evolution of their interactions. An analytical framework for assessing alignment was constructed across four dimensions—level of attention, adaptation target, adaptation action, and adaptation scale—to evaluate the alignment within core concerns. The results indicate that climate adaptation policies have embraced global coordination, while studies have gradually shifted from a theoretical focus to applied practice. The policy–research relationship has evolved from study-led development through parallel advancement to bidirectional interaction, though the efficiency and depth of their synergy remain limited. Across core concerns, overall alignment was relatively strong. Higher alignment was observed in cities and built environments, climate risk and disaster management, and water resource management; coastal areas and health and well-being showed moderate alignment; and ecosystems and biodiversity exhibited relatively low alignment. Alignment is generally strong in terms of adaptation target and action, but weak in regard to adaptation scale, with future scenario simulations and studies at regional and community scales remaining insufficient. Future studies should move beyond “outcome alignment” to “mechanism alignment” by optimizing policy–research bidirectional feedback mechanisms, promoting interdisciplinary collaboration and exchange mechanisms, and enhancing coordinated support through resource allocation and governance mechanisms. These findings contribute to the climate adaptation governance theory and provide insights and guidance for the future development of both policies and studies.