ORIGINAL ARTICLE Envisioning robust climate change adaptation futures for coastal regions: a comparative evaluation of cases in three continents Tom van der Voorn 1 & Jaco Quist 2 & Claudia Pahl-Wostl 1 & Marjolijn Haasnoot 2,3 Received: 19 December 2014 / Accepted: 18 September 2015 # Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2015 Abstract The paper reports on a comparative study of three different cases on vision and strategy development for climate change adaptation planning in (i) The South African Breede–Overberg Catchment, (ii) The Mississippi Estuary-New Orleans region and (iii) The Dutch Rhine-Meuse Estuary. The objective of the paper is twofold: to develop a better understanding of such processes and to further develop the Backcasting-Adaptive Management (BCAM) methodology. A framework for case evaluation is developed using six dimensions: (i) inputs and resources, (ii) future vision, (iii) stakeholder engagement, (iv) methodological aspects, (v) pathway development and (vi) impact. Major conclu- sions based on a cross-case comparison and testing propositions are (i) participatory vision development is a strong tool for climate change adaptation planning in different governance contexts and shows considerable diversity in its application in these contexts; (ii) a single, shared future vision is not a prerequisite for vision and pathway develop- ment and endorsement; (iii) broad stakeholder engagement enriches strategy develop- ment, but the involvement of marginal groups requires additional efforts and capacity building; (iv) multiple pathways and robust elements are useful but require novel expertise; and (v) more institutional embeddedness and support for participatory pro- cesses lead to better implementation of the outcomes of these processes. Keywords Vision development . Backcasting . Climate adaptation . Pathways Mitig Adapt Strateg Glob Change DOI 10.1007/s11027-015-9686-4 * Tom van der Voorn tvanderv@uni-osnabrueck.de 1 Institute of Environmental Systems Research, University of Osnabrück, Barbarastr. 12, 49069 Osnabrück, Germany 2 Faculty of Technology, Policy, Management, Delft University of Technology, PO Box 5015, 2600 GA Delft, The Netherlands 3 Deltares, PO Box 177, 2600 MH Delft, The Netherlands