Abstract
Purpose
This study aimed to determine the role and responsibility of stakeholders in decision-making, research, policy-making, and implementation of an adaptation plan, with a comprehensive view of the position, influence, and power of stakeholders.
Methods
This descriptive-analytical research was identified and analyzed using the social network analysis approach. Accordingly, the opinions of 25 university professors, experts, and executives who were selected by purposeful and snowball sampling were obtained through an questionnaire with a Likert scale. Data analysis and graphs design were then performed using Microsoft Excel and Gephi software, version 0.9.2. Stakeholder interaction patterns were also determined through Force Atlas 2 algorithm and graph theory concepts.
Results
The network consisted of 37 nods, 3 clusters, and 63 edges. The network was close to a complete graph with a density of 0.971. Among the trustees’ network, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change was the most active stakeholder and had relatively strong exterior interactions with other stakeholders. The Department of Environmental Protection and the Ministry of Health and Medical Education had relatively weak and very weak exterior interactions with other stakeholders, respectively.
Conclusion
Given the conflicting interests between the industrial sectors and the health sector, it seems that the Ministry of Health and medical education should gain more power and exert influence on other stakeholders; as well, involving health sector representatives in reviewing policies and providing stakeholder advice may help to fill the gap between the health and other sectors in climate change issues.