Given the uncertainty surrounding the consequences of climate change, there is an emphasis on the role of institutions in strengthening adaptive capacities of communities according to the rate of environmental change. Institutions, traditionally conservative and reactive, will need to proactively respond to this challenge. This paper addresses the question: how can the inherent characteristics of institutions to stimulate the capacity of society to adapt to climate change from local through to national level be assessed? On the basis of a literature review, the paper presents six dimensions:

variety
learning capacity
room for autonomous change
leadership
availability of resources and fair governance

The authors discuss a total of 22 criteria for these dimensions which form the Adaptive Capacity Wheel. It is asserted that this wheel can help academics and social actors to assess if institutions stimulate the adaptive capacity of society to respond to climate change; and to focus on whether and how institutions need to be redesigned. The authors also briefly demonstrate the application of this Adaptive Capacity Wheel to different institutions.