1

2
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Section 1 starts out with a definition of climate change adaptation and related
concepts. It further highlights the importance of adaptation by presenting climate
change impacts on key sectors and global costs estimates. The section also presents
key elements of an adaptation process, highlighting two critical parameters for
effective adaptation, namely data availability and stakeholder engagement.

4
Climate change may be more rapid and pronounced than expected and will have
wide-ranging impacts on ecological systems as well as various other aspects of our
lives and human systems. Ecological, social and economic systems have to adjust to
the changing climate and the expected effects or impacts thereof in order to
minimize potential negative effects. This “adjustment” by both natural and human
systems is commonly referred to as “adaptation”. While the impacts of climate
change can impose serious threats to lives and livelihoods, particular in developing
countries, climate change adaptation may also result in non-climate related co-
benefits, such as fostering social-learning and more resilient societies.

Definition source: IPCC (2001). Third Assessment Report.

5
Various approaches to climate change adaptation exist. Approaches can range from
modifying threats (building a dam for flood control) to preventing effects and
impacts (introducing drought resistant crops) to accepting the loss (when an
adaptation measure is too costly). Generally the distinction is made between two
groups of adaptation options: anticipatory or reactive adaptation. Examples of
anticipatory adaptation include development of new building codes to better protect
human settlements. Reactive adaptation examples include changes in farm practices
such as additional irrigation measures in case of dry-spells.

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The vulnerability of systems, including human, geophysical, biological and socio-
economic systems to climate change differs substantially across regions and across
populations within regions. Vulnerability to climate change deals with the extent to
which climate change may damage or harm both natural and human systems. In
addition to climate vulnerability, countries have different capacities to adapt to the
impacts of climate change. Resilience is an indication of the ability of a system to
absorb changes and is thus closely related to the concept of adaptive capacity.
Climate risk refers to the probability of occurrence of the impacts of climate change,
such as drought and flooding.

UNFCCC (2006). UNFCCC Handbook, p94

IPCC (2007). Fourth Assessment Report, Annex i synthesis report.
UNDP (2011). Improving access, understanding and application of climate data and
information.

7
Climate change in the form of higher maximum temperatures, changing precipitation
patterns, melting of snow and ice, sea level rise, changes in the frequency and
intensity of extreme weather events, etc. will impact nearly all social and economic
sectors. For example, it is likely that future typhoons and hurricanes will become
more intense, with major impacts for spatial planning and disaster risk reduction.
The global average surface air temperature is estimated to increase between 1.1°C
and 6.4°C by 2100, with significant consequences for sectors such as agriculture,
health, water, forestry, etc.
IPCC (2007). Fourth Assessment Report

For more detailed information about climate change science, including observed and
projected trends and impacts see Module 1.

8
The following tables provide examples of how different levels of temperature rise
would affect different sectors. Temperature change is, for example, impacting the
water sector (decreased water availability in mid and low latitudes leading to
increased water stress for hundreds of millions of people), as well as ecosystem
conservation (loss of species).

Source: UNDP (2009). Gender and Climate Change, p17

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Higher temperatures will also impact the food and agriculture sector (decreased
cereal productivity in low latitudes, increased cereal productivity in high latitudes),
coastal management (increased damage from floods and storms), as well as the
health sector (increased mortality from heat waves, changing distribution of disease
vectors like mosquitos).

Source: UNDP (2009). Gender and Climate Change, p17

10
Estimations vary, but there is a general agreement that adaptation needs in
developing countries are in the order of billions USD per year. Donors have agreed at
the 2009 Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen that 100 billion USD per year
should be provided by 2020.

In addition to considering the costs of adaptation, it is also important to consider the

costs of not taking any adaptation action, or a delayed response. While adaptation
actions may often be costly, inaction or delayed action can cause serious and
irreversible damages to both natural and human systems with ultimately even higher
financial implications.

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The first element of any adaptation initiative is the observation of climatic and non-
climatic, socio-economic and environmental variables. These variables can then be
used to assess climate impacts and related vulnerabilities. Based on this assessment
adaptation options can be selected taking into account different factors such as cost-
effectiveness, potential co-benefits and public acceptability. Once an adaptation
activity or action is selected it needs to be implemented. Monitoring and evaluation
of adaptation actions can help to provide feedback to ensure that adaptation
activities are appropriate, effective and revised where necessary.

UNFCCC (2011). Highlights of the Contribution of the Nairobi Work Programme:

Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability, Making Informed Decisions, pp
18, 29, 33 & 36

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Availability of climate data and other data on the environment is vital in assessing
potential climate change impacts and plan adaptation activities. Socio-economic
data and scenarios are also important since they provide information about the
vulnerability and adaptive capacity of a certain region or country. Information about
relevant policies, plans and strategies at various levels is also essential to make sure
adaptation activities are aligned with other planning processes.

While effective adaptation planning requires reliable and high quality data, this
information is often difficult to access, especially in developing countries. However,
many things can be done in the form of ‘no regrets’ activities; i.e. things that would
make sense doing with or without the impact of climate change.

UNFCCC (2011). Highlights of the Contribution of the Nairobi Work Programme:

Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability, Making Informed Decisions, p18

UNDP, UNEP, GEF. National Communications Support Programme: Applying Climate

Information for Adaptation Decision-Making, p22

For more detailed information about climate data see Module 1.

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Stakeholders play an essential role in designing and implementing adaptation
activities. They can, for example, provide important information about local
circumstances and thereby contribute to more effective planning. Effective
stakeholder engagement is also likely to enhance the acceptance of decisions taken.
Key stakeholders range from community members, policy-makers, researchers and
experts to non-governmental organizations.

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Small communities are likely to be the most severely affected by climate change
impacts and yet are least equipped to cope and adapt. Community-based adaptation
projects seek to enhance the resilience of communities, and/or the ecosystems on
which they rely, to climate change impacts. This slide provides an example of a
community-based adaptation project in Samoa supported by the UN Development
Programme (UNDP).

UNDP Adaptation Learning Mechanism

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Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP)
answers key questions such as: which regions will be most affected by climate
change; what is the role of adaptive capacity in responding to climate change; and
what measures are needed to finance adaptation in developing countries.

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Section 2 presents main elements of climate change vulnerability assessments and
explains the evolution of assessment methods over time. The section also provides a
number of examples to illustrate the different components of vulnerability. A special
emphasis is put on gender vulnerability.

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Various components contribute to climate vulnerability. The exposure to climate-risk
related factors, as well as the degree to which a system is affected by a climate
stimuli (“sensitivity”), both contribute to the potential impacts that climate change
will have on a system. For example, if climate change leads to heavy rainfalls in a
certain region (exposure) and the crops traditionally planted in this region are not
resistant to high amounts of precipitation (sensitivity), then this will lead to
decreased crop productivity (potential impact). If, however, the adaptive capacity of
the region is very high (farmers are able to switch to more resistant crop varieties)
then vulnerability is reduced, despite high exposure and sensitivity. In sum, climate
vulnerability is determined by the potential impacts of climate change and the
capacity of natural and human systems to adapt thereto. Vulnerability can be
identified at different levels or scale (regional, national, local) for different sectors
(agriculture, water, health, etc.), and for different population groups (women,
children, urban poor, landless rural laborers, etc.).

Midgley, S.J.E., Davies, R.A.G. and Chesterman, S. (2011). Climate Risk and
Vulnerability Mapping in Southern Africa: Status Quo (2008) and Future (2050), p3

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The 2014 IPCC report on Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability highlights the
concept of risks. In this perspective, vulnerability constitutes one of the factors that
shape the level of risk for a particular location and societal group. The other
components of risk are exposure and hazards. Vulnerability and exposure are largely
influenced by socio-economic processes. Hazards on the other hand are mainly
driven by changes in the climate system.

Climate risks are therefore dynamic, varying across temporal and spatial scales, and
depend on economic, social, geographic, demographic, cultural, institutional,
governance, and environmental factors. Effective adaptation strategies consider
these dynamics and the inter-linkages between socio-economic development
pathways and the vulnerability and exposure of people.

IPCC (2014), Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability – Summary
for Policymakers, p3

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Assessing the various components that contribute to climate change vulnerability is
an important part of adaptation planning, and one of the first steps. Vulnerability
assessments can assist in (1) determining the extent that climate change is likely to
damage or harm a system and (2) adapting to the impacts of climate change. They
provide hence a basis for identifying the most appropriate adaptation options.
Vulnerability assessments are also important as they can provide evidence of the
linkages between climate and development, improve understanding of specific risks
and vulnerabilities in different localities, provide the opportunity for capacity
building, and serve as a baseline analysis to monitor how risks may be influenced by
a changing climate over time.

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Assessments of climate change vulnerability vary widely, depending on the scope,
time frame and geographic coverage of the assessment. Consequently, a wide range
of methods and tools have been developed and applied. In all different approaches,
socio-economic data and scenarios are important inputs, in addition to climatic
information. A summary of existing and emerging approaches to vulnerability
assessments, their associated methods and tools, has been developed by the
UNFCCC (2011). All the approaches summarized respond to a growing need for
policy-relevant information, greater integration of stakeholder inputs and robust
treatment of uncertainties in the planning processes.

UNFCCC (2011), Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability: Making

Informed Adaptation Decisions

22
Assessment approaches evolved from first generation to second-generation studies.

First generation assessments focused more on what the impacts of climate change
will be rather than adaptation itself. Impact assessments were driven by the goal to
understand long-term consequences and followed a “scenario-based approach” that
was often derived from Global Climate Models (GCMs). These climate scenarios
were then applied to models of ecosystems or to a component of the bio-physical
environment (sea level, coastal zones, mountains, etc.). The results of these
assessments were further carried forward to the modeling of socio-economic
impacts and only then was adaptation considered. Since the first generation studies,
the methodology for vulnerability and adaptation assessments has gone through a
significant evolution.

UNFCCC (2006). UNFCCC Handbook, p103

UNFCCC (2008). Compendium on Methods and Tools to Evaluate Impacts of, and
Vulnerability and Adaptation to, Climate Change, p2
CGE Training Material: Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment, Chapter II

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The “second generation” of assessments focuses on the question on “how to adapt”
rather than on modeling climate change impacts. The recent literature underscores
that risks from climate change are not solely externally generated circumstances or
changes in the climate system to which societies respond, but rather, the result of
complex interactions among societies or communities, ecosystems, and hazards
arising from climate change. The new approach integrates the concept of
vulnerability while undertaking assessments and it also distinguishes between
current and future vulnerabilities of key environmental and socio-economic variables
. These types of assessments integrate socio-economic factors and data (household
surveys, census data) more adequately with biophysical assessments and also tend
to address shorter-term concerns.

CGE Training Material: Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment, Chapter II

UNFCCC (2011), Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability: Making
Informed Adaptation Decisions

24
The “second generation” of assessments focuses on the question on “how to adapt”
rather than on modeling climate change impacts. The new approach integrates the
concept of vulnerability while undertaking assessments and it also distinguishes
between current and future vulnerabilities. These types of assessments integrate
socio-economic factors and data (household surveys, census data) more adequately
with biophysical assessments and also tend to address shorter-term concerns.

CGE Training Material: Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment, Chapter II

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Droughts have increased in frequency and intensity in Eastern Africa, where frequent
droughts have occurred in each decade over the past 50 years. The increased
occurrence of prolonged dry periods affects in particular the climate-sensitive
agriculture sector. Adaptive capacity in the region is low due to poverty, limited
access to technologies, as well as poor policy and institutional frameworks. The
combination of high potential impact and low adaptive capacity makes the region
highly vulnerable to climate change and climate variability. The slide provides an
example of changing rainfall patterns in Kitui county, Kenya.

IPCC website
AMCEN (2011). Addressing Climate Change Challenges in Africa - A Practical Guide
Towards Sustainable Development

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Exposure to climate-related risks and sensitivity to changing climate conditions in
Kitui is high, while adaptive capacity is low. Vulnerability to climate change and
climate variability is hence high.

Population Action International (2014) Population Dynamics, Environment, and

Sustainable Development in Kitui County.

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Global mean sea level is projected to rise between 0.09 and 0.88 m above the 1990
level by 2100. This rise is due primarily to thermal expansion of the warmer oceans
combined with melting of glaciers and ice sheets. Rising sea levels are expected to
have severe effects on many low-lying areas. Some countries are particularly
vulnerable to sea-level rise, such as small-island developing states (SIDS). Others
have higher capacity to adapt, such as the Netherlands.

WMO website

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Exposure to climate-related risks and sensitivity to changing climate conditions in the
Netherlands is high. However, adaptive capacity is also high. Therefore, vulnerability
to climate change is rather low.

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Over the past several decades the sea surface temperatures over most tropical
ocean basins have increased in magnitude by between 0.25 – 0.5 degrees Celsius.
Some researchers argue that ocean warming has caused a substantial increase in the
probability and intensity of tropical cyclones, even though no consensus has been
reached on this issue. It is likely that tropical cyclone intensity will further increase if
the climate continues to warm and countries such as Jamaica are taking measures to
prevent potential damage.

WMO International Workshop on Tropical Cyclones (November 2006). Statement on

Tropical Cyclones and Climate Change

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Exposure to climate-related risks in Jamaica is high, while sensitivity and adaptive
capacity is medium. Therefore, vulnerability to climate change can be rated as rather
medium.

31
The table summarizes some of the good practices and lessons learned under the
Nairobi work programme on climate risk and vulnerability assessments.

UNFCCC (2011), Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerability: Making

Informed Adaptation Decisions

32
While the impacts of climate change affect everyone, they also reinforce existing inequalities. Factors
that determine and influence these differential vulnerabilities to climate-related hazards include:
ethnicity, socioeconomic class, gender, age, as well as migration experience and homelessness.
Vulnerability in terms of gender is not determined through biology, but by social structures,
institutions and rule systems; hence women and girls are often (not always) more vulnerable due to
the fact that they are marginalized from decision making, experience discrimination in development
and reconstruction efforts, or are working in sectors that are particularly vulnerable to climate
change. In the agricultural sector, for example, rural women in developing countries are the primary
producers of staple food, a sector that is highly exposed to climate risks such as drought and
uncertain rainfall. In many countries, climate change means that women and young girls have to walk
further to collect water, especially in the dry season. Already today, women in sub-Saharan Africa
spend 40 billion hours per year collecting water. Moreover, women will contribute much of the
unpaid labor that will go into coping with climate risks through, for example, soil and water
conservation, or the building of anti-flood embankments. Therefore it is important that gender
considerations are taken into account in both medium- and long-term adaptation.

UNDP (2009). Gender and Climate Change, p III

IPCC (2014), Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability – Chapter 19. Emergent
Risks and Key Vulnerabilities

Further information:

Inefficient representation of women in the international climate change decision-making processes

also further contributes to inequalities. The 18th Conference of the Parties (COP 18) to the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) (Doha, 2012) therefore adopted a decision to
promote gender balance and to improve the participation of women during UNFCCC negotiations as
well as the representation of women in bodies established under the UNFCCC and the Kyoto Protocol.

UNFCCC website

33
Section 3 first presents the range of adaptation options that are available and then
discusses different methods and criteria for selecting the most adequate option. The
section also provides a sectoral perspective highlighting possible adaptation
measures in a number of key sectors.

34
After conducting a vulnerability assessment it is important to identify possible adaptation
options. A variety of options are available, ranging from traditional development activities to
more specific adaptation measures. At one end of the continuum a focus is placed on
vulnerability. Here adaptation efforts are vulnerability-oriented and there is an overlap with
traditional development support. At the other end, activities target climate change impacts
and are more `impact focused’. These adaptation activities fall outside the scope of
traditional development aid. Funding for activities on the left usually needs to be sought
from traditional development funding sources while activities on the right can more easily
benefit from new adaptation funding measures. Vulnerability-focused activities often
represent the foundation of climate change adaptation.

World Resources Institute (2009). A Continuum of Adaptation Activities: From Development

to Climate Change
McGray et al (2007). CGE Training Materials V & A Frameworks Presentation, slide 50, p18

Further information:

The above diagram and explanation gives a clear indication that adaptation is not something
that can be seen separate from development. Many adaptation options are linked to
sustainable development practices such as maintaining ecosystems, integrated water
resource management, and disaster risk reduction.

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This table provides examples of the different foci of adaptation actions (from
reducing vulnerability to addressing climate change impacts) explained in the
previous slide.

McGray et al (2007). CGE Training Materials V & A Frameworks Presentation, slide 51

p18

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Given the range of possible adaptation actions, different options need to be
evaluated and compared to ensure that the best option is selected. This table
identifies some of the most commonly used methods to evaluate adaptation
options, including cost-benefit, cost-effectiveness, and multi-criteria analysis.

UNFCCC (2011). Highlights of the Contribution of the Nairobi Work Programme, p31

Further information:

A proper analysis of different adaptation options is also important to avoid the

duplication of activities and prevent “maladaptation”. An example of maladaptation
could be an agricultural project that supports monoculture of a high-value crop, with
the objective of maximizing irrigation system efficiency, water productivity and yields
(“more crop per drop”), and, ultimately, boosting income generation. Although such
a project might be designed taking into account the effects of climate change, it
would lower the adaptive capacity of farmers by making their income generation
base more volatile. In the case of a bad harvest, farmers’ income would be greatly
affected, i.e., the ultimate impact of the project would be one of increased
vulnerability to climate risks.

World Bank (2010). Economic Evaluation of Climate Change Adaptation Projects, p5

37
As mentioned in the previous slide, multi-criteria analysis looks at a range of factors
that could influence the selection of an adaptation option. This table provides an
overview of possible criteria to be considered. The criteria should be customized
depending on national/local circumstances. For example, other criteria could be
added such as `political leadership’ and `political context’. It is also important to bear
in mind that, rather than identifying one best option, the goal is to develop a
`portfolio’ of options that can be implemented in shorter and longer time scales.

IISD, UNITAR, UNEP (2009). IEA Training Material - Vulnerability and Climate Change
Impact Assessment for Adaptation, p37

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In this graph, findings from two recent studies on adaptation to flood risk in Guyana and Mozambique
illustrate the relationship between the economic cost-benefit ratio and the robustness of measures to
climate change uncertainties, two of the various important factors in selecting an adaptation option.
Both Guyana and Mozambique have experienced damages from flooding and in accordance with
climate models it is predicted that climate change could alter flood risk in the future. `Hard
adaptation options’, such as drainage systems were the focus of the Guyana study whereas ‘soft
adaptation options’ such as reducing social vulnerability were explored in the Mozambique study.

Ranger & Garbett-Shiels (2011). How Can Decision-Makers in Developing Countries Incorporate
Uncertainty about Future Climate Risks into Existing Planning and Policymaking Processes? Policy
Paper, p15

Further information:

On the vertical axis, the blue bubbles indicate the relative costs and benefits of flood management
options for Guyana and the green bubbles apply to Mozambique. (The grey bubbles are illustrative
and are drawn from other case studies). Measures at the bottom of the figure have the highest
benefits relative to costs, while measures at the top have the lowest benefits relative to costs. For
example, in Guyana, improved building codes would have greater damage reduction benefits relative
to costs, than upgrading the drainage system.

Another important factor to take into consideration is the robustness of adaptation measures.
`Robustness’ measures how effective a measure could be for a diverse range of plausible future
scenarios. The level of robustness is shown on the horizontal axis and can be thought of as the risk of
mal-adaptation. On the left-hand side of the figure are `no-regrets’ options (i.e. high robustness),
such as early warning systems, improved education, and health care, which have strong benefits in
any climate. `Higher-regret’ options (i.e. low robustness) are shown on the right-hand side and
include drainage systems and flood defenses, where the choice of measure (and the resulting
benefits) is more dependent on assumptions today about the future climate.

39
Climate change has already significantly impacted agriculture and is expected to
further impact directly and indirectly food production. Increase of mean
temperature, changes in rain patterns, increased variability both in temperature and
rain patterns, changes in water availability, the frequency and intensity of ‘extreme
events’, sea level rise and salinization, perturbations in ecosystems, all will have
profound impacts on agriculture, forestry and fisheries. The slide illustrates some
examples of possible adaptation measures.

FAO (2013). Climate-Smart Agriculture Sourcebook

Further information:

Agriculture has to address simultaneously three intertwined challenges: ensuring

food security through increased productivity and income, adapting to climate change
and contributing to climate change mitigation. To address these three intertwined
challenges, food systems have to become, at the same time, more efficient and
resilient, at every scale from the farm to the global level. In this context, FAO has
forged the concept of “climate-smart agriculture” as a way forward for food security
in a changing climate.

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This learning package, produced by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of
the UN, explores the impacts of climate change on agriculture, as well as possible
technical and policy considerations that can help building food security under
current and future challenges. The technical and policy considerations explored are
meant to contribute towards climate-resilient and environmentally sound or
"climate-smart" agriculture — agriculture that increases productivity; enhances
resilience to global change; stops ecosystem services deterioration; and produces
economic and social benefits. The package was developed in the context of a climate
change adaptation project in the Yellow River Basin in China.

41
The Overseas Development Institute (ODI) undertook an analysis of planned
interventions in the water sector outlined in the National Adaptation Programmes of
Actions (NAPAs) of Least Developed Countries (LDCs). Almost all of the interventions
outlined in the NAPAs aim to address inter-annual variability (such as Bhutan,
Burundi) or extreme weather events (Kiribati). There are only a few interventions
that aim to address long-term climate change (including Bangladesh and Maldives).
Very few interventions attempt to address issues of social and political access. Water
supply and irrigation projects in Cambodia and Eritrea aim to establish water user
communities. Others, like those in Guinea Bissau, São Tomé and Príncipe and
Lesotho co-relate improved access to investments in physical infrastructure. Low-
tech solutions such as water quality testing, filtration, school gardens and rainwater
catchment systems, to name a few, are just as important to keep in mind when
considering adaptation interventions.

ODI (2009). Adapting to Climate Change in the Water Sector: ODI Background Note

42
Climate change has multiple influences on human health. Direct impacts include the
effects of rising temperatures and more intense heat waves and floods. However,
potentially larger impacts may arise from indirect mechanisms. Warmer
temperatures and a more variable climate can impact agricultural production and
food availability, the availability of clean water and sanitation, and the transmission
of vector and water-borne diseases. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates
that climate change may already be causing over 150,000 deaths per year and these
risks are expected to increase substantially in the future. The slide presents possible
adaptation measures to reduce health risks.

WHO & WMO (2011). Atlas of Health and Climate

WHO (2009). Protecting Health from Climate Change
WHO website

43
The video produced by the Regional Office for Europe of the World Health
Organisation presents an initiative to pilot health adaptation across seven countries
(Albania, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, the Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Macedonia and
Uzbekistan). Each country is responding with a variety of adaptation actions - from
safe water and sanitation to extreme weather events risk management.

44
On any given day, more than a billion children go to school. General education is the
most common means by which societies prepare their youth for the future, including
a changing climate. Therefore, many countries have embarked on integrating climate
change in school curricula, developing relevant learning materials, and providing
training for teachers. At the same time the education sector is also vulnerable to the
impacts of climate change and facilities such as schools need to be prepared to
extreme weather events (e.g. storms) which might become more intense in the
future due to climate change.

UNICEF (2012). Climate Change Adaptation and Disaster Risk Reduction in the
Education Sector - Resource Manual

45
Section 4 provides a short introduction to linkages between climate change
adaptation and development. It further discusses opportunities for integrating
adaptation within development planning, and highlights implementation challenges.

More detailed information on climate change adaptation planning processes is

provided in Module 6 “Introduction to Climate Change Governance and Planning”.

46
The issue of climate change can seem remote compared with immediate problems
such as poverty, disease and economic stagnation. Yet, the ability to successfully
address these core development priorities risks being seriously undermined by
climate change.

UNDP & UNEP (2011). Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Development
Planning: A Guide for Practitioners

47
Climate change is a development challenge which had direct implications for the
achievement of several of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). It is now a
self-standing goal in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The negative impacts of climate change will disproportionately hit poor people and
poor countries and exacerbate inequalities. Climate change brings greater water
stress and scarcity and poses a real threat to food security in many countries in
Africa, Asia and Latin America. For example, higher temperatures in Asia, cause
lower rice yields. Other impacts of climate change include heat-related mortality,
spread of vector-borne diseases like malaria, and access to natural resources. The
following tables illustrate a non-exhaustive list of possible impacts of climate change
on selected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) for least developed countries.

IIED (2015). Briefing. Impact of climate change on Least Developed Countries: are
the SDGs possible?

48
49
The previous slides have illustrated the close relationship between climate change
adaptation and development. While in certain situations stand-alone adaptation
measures can be effective, in most other cases, adaptation measures need to be
implemented as part of a broader suite of measures within existing development
processes and decision cycles. This is known as “mainstreaming”.

For example, adaptation responses to the risks posed by climate change on

agriculture might need to be incorporated as part of existing farming practices,
within irrigation and community development plans and projects, as part of sectoral
policies in agriculture, and within donor countries’ assistance strategies as well as
within national development and poverty alleviation strategies.

OECD (2009). Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Development Cooperation

UNDP & UNEP (2011). Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Development
Planning: A Guide for Practitioners

50
Various ways to integrate adaptation in development planning exist and it is
important to find the right entry points. Key processes include long-term (15–20
years) visions and national development strategies as well as shorter-term (3–5 year)
national policies and poverty reduction strategies. Such documents have a high
potential to foster adaptation at various levels since they set the stage for national
plans and legislation, sector and subnational plans and policy measures. In addition
to including adaptation considerations in strategies and policies, it is important to
make sure that budgets and investment programmes provide adequate finance for
implementation.

OECD (2009). Integrating Climate Change Adaptation into Development Cooperation

UNDP & UNEP (2011). Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Development
Planning: A Guide for Practitioners

More detailed information is provided in Module 6 “Introduction to Climate Change

Governance and Planning”.

51
An important planning element is to link adaptation efforts with disaster risk
reduction (DRR) strategies. While DRR covers non-climate related disasters such as
earthquakes, it also addresses climate-related disasters such as floods, droughts,
cyclones and storm surges - all risks that are associated with climate change. It is
therefore important, for example, to integrate the findings of climate change risk
assessments into the planning process for disaster risk reduction. In this manner
enhancing existing DRR plans and systems (e.g. early warning systems and
emergency plans) will also be relevant to climate change.

Oxfam (2009). Introduction to Climate Change Adaptation

52
To successfully operationalize adaptation mainstreaming the following measures are
relevant:

• Accompanying adaptation policy measures with suitable budgetary allocations.

This entails leveraging domestic and external funding sources.
• Moving overall coordination functions into a central body with
convening/decision-making power vis-à-vis line Ministries (e.g. office of the
President, Planning Ministry, etc.).
• Strengthening coordination through inter-sector mechanisms (existing or newly
established).
• Collaborating with national, sector and subnational bodies to build their
capacities to implement policy measures for adaptation. The implementation of
adaptation measures at various levels can thereby benefit from the involvement
of non-governmental actors.
• Integrating adaptation indicators in the national monitoring system to track
emerging trends related to climate change as well as the implementation and
impact of policies.

UNDP & UNEP (2011). Mainstreaming Climate Change Adaptation into Development
Planning: A Guide for Practitioners

53
Section 5 provides an overview of international initiatives to support climate change
adaptation.

54
This slide provides a brief overview of the adaptation work streams under the UN
Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). They will be discussed in more
detail in the following slides.

55
The Nairobi Work Programme on Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation to Climate Change (NWP) was
developed with the aim to assist all Parties in particular developing countries to improve their
understanding of climate change impacts and vulnerability and to increase their ability to make
informed decisions on how to successfully adapt to climate change. By providing information on the
range of available adaptation options the NWP assists Parties to plan for adaptation. The first phase
of the work programme was implemented during 2005 until mid 2008. The Second phase
commenced mid 2008 until 2010. During 2010 parties to the UNFCCC decided to continue working
under the NWP. COP 21 launches the Adaptation Knowledge Portal under the NWP.

Work Areas of the NWP include:

• Methods and tools

• Data and observations
• Climate modeling, scenarios and downscaling
• Climate related risks and extreme events
• Socio-economic information
• Adaptation planning and practices
• Research
• Technologies for adaptation
• Economic diversification

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NAPAs provide an opportunity for LDCs to identify their urgent and immediate
adaptation needs and to prioritize adaptation activities accordingly. This is to reduce
climate change vulnerability, to strengthen capacity and to address adaptation needs
for which delay will cause increased vulnerability or cost at a later stage. NAPAs are
compiled at country-level and are flexible, action-orientated and based on national
circumstances. NAPAs can also serve as a basis for national climate change policies
and strategies. Once a NAPA is submitted to the UNFCCC a LDC is eligible for funding
under the LDC Fund for its implementation. As of July 2013 USD 774.9 million had
been pledged to the LDCF. The newly established Green Climate Fund will also
provide support towards NAPAs. As of 2015, 50 countries have prepared and
submitted their NAPAs.

UNFCCC website
GEF website

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The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process enables Parties to assess climate risks
and vulnerabilities and plan adaptation actions. NAPs build on and complement
existing adaptation planning. Support, by means of technical guidelines, papers,
advice, training workshops, synthesis reports and knowledge sharing is provided to
least developed countries to assist with formulating NAPs.

UNFCCC website

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This slide compares the NAPA and the NAP processes. The NAPs can be seen as an
evolution of the NAPAs, moving from a focus on urgent/immediate adaptation needs
to a longer term perspective. While most NAPAs were developed under the lead of
Environment Ministries, the NAP process engages Planning, Finance and sectoral
Ministries to promote integration of climate change adaptation into development
planning. While the NAPAs targeted Least Developed Countries (LDCs) only, the NAP
process covers all interested developing countries.

Draft NAP Global Support Programme (GSP) (2012) - Submission to the GEF

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Existing mitigation commitments and actions are not enough to prevent dangerous
climate change related impacts. Therefore, developing countries are calling for
international commitment to act on loss and damage. In this context, the Work
Programme on Loss and Damage was established in 2010 as part of the Cancun
Adaptation Framework. It considers approaches to address loss and damage
associated with the impacts of climate change in developing countries that are
particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Activities under this
work programme are undertaken in three thematic areas. Thematic Area I assesses
the risk of loss and damage that are associated with adverse effects of climate
change. Thematic Area II looks at the various approaches to address such loss and
damage. In addition to loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of
climate change it also includes impacts that relate to extreme weather events and
slow onset events. The third thematic area addresses the role of the UNFCCC in
strengthening the implementation of approaches to address loss and damage.

UNFCCC website
UNU, CDKN & ACPC (2013). Fact Sheet - Pushing the Limits: Pioneering Study Shows
Evidence of Loss & Damage in Vulnerable Communities

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Existing mitigation commitments and actions are not enough to prevent dangerous
climate change related impacts. Therefore, developing countries are calling for
international commitment to act on loss and damage. As part of the Cancun
Adaptation Framework, the Warsaw Mechanism for Loss and Damage is the body
under the Convention which aims to strengthen knowledge, international
cooperation and implementation of approaches to reduce loss and damage
associated with the adverse effects of climate change in especially vulnerable
developing countries.

Activities under the L&D mechanism focus on better knowledge of risk management
approaches, stronger dialogue and synergies among stakeholders and enabled action
and support through finance, technology and capacity-building.

UNFCCC website
UNU, CDKN & ACPC (2013). Fact Sheet - Pushing the Limits: Pioneering Study Shows
Evidence of Loss & Damage in Vulnerable Communities

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The video is part of a series of 15 interviews with participants of the conference
“Perspectives on Loss and Damage: Society, Climate Change, and Decision Making”,
hosted by the United Nations University Institute for Environment and Human
Security (UNU-EHS) at the UN Campus in Bonn, Germany from 25 to 27 February
2013.

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 g

During the 2010 Climate Change Conference (COP 16), held in Cancun Mexico,
Parties affirmed that adaptation should get the same priority as mitigation. In this
context, Parties adopted the Cancun Adaptation Framework (CAF) as part of the
Cancun Agreements.

Includes five clusters:

-Implementation (including NAPs and Work Programme on Loss and Damage)
-Support (including long-term, scaled-up, predictable, new and additional finance,
technology and capacity building)
-Institutions (including establishment of an Adaptation Committee)
-Principles (a country-driven, gender-sensitive, participatory and fully transparent approach,
taking into consideration vulnerable groups, communities and ecosystems)
-Stakeholder engagement (including relevant multilateral, international, regional and
national organizations, the public and private sectors, civil society and other relevant
• steakholder) stablishment of an
Adaptation Committee)
• Principles (a country-driven, gender-UNFCCC website

participatory and fully transparent approach,

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