It is important to understand how residents in highly vulnerable natural and social environments, e.g., remote mountain villages, adapt to extreme climate shocks. Taking Shenmu Village in Xinyi Township, Nantou County, central Taiwan, as an example, this study examined the adaptive capacity of residents in this remote and mountainous area from the perspective of social capital and institutions. The empirical data for this study were collected from two sources: the Public Participation Geographic Information System Workshop and in-depth interviews with the residents of Shenmu Village.

To achieve the announced 2060 carbon neutrality goal, the government of China has recently established its “1 + N” legal and policy framework. However, the emerging autonomous vehicle technology, which is developing rapidly, is not included. Considering the significant potential of autonomous vehicle technology in reducing carbon emissions from the transportation sector, whether and how to integrate it into the current framework can be crucial for China.

The urbanisation in the Global South provides opportunities for improved rural livelihoods in the vicinity of cities, but these opportunities do not automatically occur. The literature shows that urban expansion leads to more intensive land use around cities and a shift of production towards high-value products. However, competition for land around growing cities can lead to increasing socioeconomic vulnerability in affected areas, particularly for those who have no or weak land ownership or tenancy rights.