ClimateAdaptationPlanning–AnOverview

91Z

f?rInternationale

zusammenarbeit(G1z)GmbH

CLIMATE

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InternationaleZusammenarbeit(GIZ)GmbH

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Eclimatechangechina@giz.deI

Projectdescription

ThisreportisanoutputoftheSino-GermanCooperationonClimateChange-NDCImplementationProject,whichiscommissionedbytheFederalMinistryforEconomicAffairsandClimateAction(BMWK)aspartoftheInternationalClimateInitiative(IKI)andimplementedbyDeutscheGesellschaftfürInternationaleZusammenarbeit(GIZ)GmbHtogetherwiththeNationalCenterforClimateChangeStrategyandInternationalCooperation(NCSC)ofChina,NewClimate–InstituteforClimatePolicyandGlobalSustainability(NCI)gGmbH,andClimateAnalytics(CA)gGmbH.

TheIKIisanimportantpartoftheGermangovernment’sinternationalclimatefinancecommitment.Since2022,theIKIisimplementedbyBMWKinclosecooperationwiththeFederalMinistryfortheEnvironment,NatureConservation,NuclearSafetyandConsumerProtection(BMUV)andtheFederalForeignOffice(AA).

ProjectDirector

PaulRecknagel

Authors

PatrickPringle(ClimateAnalytics),RenéRott(ClimateAnalytics),Dr.JanSindt(ClimateAnalytics),IanTellamn(ClimateAnalytics)

ResponsibleCoordinator

XingLianghui

Design

BeijingZhuochuangAdvertisingCo.,Ltd

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https://699

Disclaimer

Thefindings,interpretationsandconclusionscontainedinthisreportsolelyrepresenttheviewsandopinionsoftheauthors.ThereportdoesnotreflecttheviewsandopinionsofGIZorBMWK.

Beijing,July2023

ClimateAdaptationPlanning–AnOverview

TableofContents

1Introduction 1

1.1DefiningAdaptation 2

1.2AdaptationPlanning 3

1.2.1Interactive,FlexibleandInclusiveAdaptationPlanning 4

1.3AdaptationPlanningatDifferentScales 4

2AdaptationPlanningCycle 5

2.1Preparingthegroundforadaptation 6

2.1.1LaunchingtheNAPProcess 7

2.1.2Stocktaking 8

2.2RiskandVulnerabilityAssessments 9

2.2.1UnderstandingRisk&Vulnerability 9

2.2.2Approachestoriskassessment 10

2.2.3VulnerabilityAssessments 10

2.2.4European&GermanContext 11

2.2.5Identification,AppraisalandPrioritizationofAdaptationOptions 11

IdentificationofAdaptationOptions 12

PrioritizingAdaptationOptions 13

2.3StrategiesforImplementation 14

2.3.1AdaptationActionPlans 14

2.3.2RolesandResponsibilities 14

2.4MonitoringandEvaluation 15

3DevelopmentsinAdaptationPlanning 17

3.1AdaptationPathways 18

3.2TransformationalAdaptation 18

4ChallengesofAdaptationPlanning 20

4.1DataIssues 21

4.2InherentComplexityofAdaptation 21

4.3LimitstoAdaptation 21

4.4TransferringRiskAcrossSpatialScales 21

5Conclusions 22

ClimateAdaptationPlanning–AnOverview

ListofFigures

Figure1.AdaptationPlanningCycle(owngraph,basedonTonkin&TaylorInternationalLtd) 8

Figure2.Coreconceptofriskasresultfromtheinteractionofclimate-relatedhazards,withvulnerabilityandexposureofhuman

andnaturalsystems(takenfromIPCC,2014,p.3) 11

ListofTables

Table1.Categoriesofadaptationoptions(owngraph,takenfromIPCC,2015) 14

ListofBoxes

BOX1.IPCCdefinitionofvulnerabilityandadaptivecapacity

BOX2.National-levelassessmentapproachinGermany

Acronymsandabbreviations

AST

AdaptationSupportTool

CAF

CancunAdaptationFramework

CCIV

ClimateChange,ImpactsandVulnerabilityAssessment

COP

ConferenceoftheParties

EEA

EuropeanEnvironmentAgency

EU

EuropeanUnion

IPCC

IntergovernmentalPanelonClimateChange

LDC

LeastDevelopedCountries

M&E

Monitoring&Evaluation

NAP

NationalAdaptationPlan/Programme

NDC

NationallyDeterminedContribution

NGO

Non-GovernmentalOrganisation

UAST

UrbanAdaptationSupportTool

UKCIP

UnitedKingdomClimateImpactsProgramme

UNFCCC

UnitedNationsFrameworkConvention

1

Introduction

1Introduction|ClimateAdaptationPlanning–AnOverview

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1Introduction

Astheimpactsofclimatechangearenowbeingexperiencedacrosstheglobe,sothescaleoftheadaptationchallengeisbecomingincreasinglyapparent.Overthelastdecade,almosteverynationhasbeguntheprocessofadaptationplanninginsomeform.Atanationallevel,manycountriesnowhaveNationalAdaptationStrategiesorNationalAdaptationPlans.Theseofteninform,andareinformedby,sub–nationaladaptationplanningprocesseswhichareusuallytailoredtothegovernancestructureofthecountryandthedifferenttiersofgovernmentwhichmayexist.Thenumberofsectoraladaptationplanshasalsogrownconsiderably,ascountriesbetterunderstandthedistinctchallengesofadaptingtoclimatechange.

Thegrowingdemandforadaptationplanninghasgeneratedaburgeoningacademicliterature,butalsoanexponentialgrowthinpracticalguidance,toolsandresourcesaimedatthosetaskedwithdevelopingadaptationplans.Whileclimateadaptationisinherentlycontextspecific,itisclearthatanumberofkeyprinciplesforgoodadaptationplanningcanbeidentifiedwhichcanbeofconsiderablevaluetothosebeginningthisprocess.Morespecifically,theframingofadaptationasacycleisextremelyvaluableforthosetryingtointerpretnationallevelapproachesinasub–nationalcontext.Thisapproachemphasisesadaptationplanningasacontinualprocess,ratherthananendgoal,whichisespeciallyimportantaswecontinuetoexperienceworseningclimatechangeimpacts,includingmultipleinteractingimpactsinincreasinglydynamicsocialandeconomiccontexts.

Thepurposeofthisbriefingnoteistoconsiderandcomparethemorepracticalliteratureonadaptationinordertoreflectonhowtheprocessofadaptationplanninghasbeenconceptualised,andtoidentifylessonsfromthiscontinuallyevolvingfieldwhichcanbeusedasChinabeginstostrengthenadaptationatthesub–nationallevel.WefocusparticularlyonexperiencesfromEuropeandGermany,howeveritshouldbenotedthatmanyofthekeyconceptsareconsistentlyusedglobally,andhaveproventobeusefulinamultitudeofcontexts.

1.1DefiningAdaptation

Intheirlatestassessmentreport,theIPCCdefinesadaptation,inhumansystems,asthe“processofadjustmenttoactualorexpectedclimateanditseffectsinordertomoderateharmortakeadvantageofbeneficialopportunities.Innaturalsystems,adaptationistheprocessofadjustmenttoactualclimateanditseffects;humaninterventionmayfacilitatethis”(IPCC,2022,p.5).Inaddition,theUNFCCCstatesthat“ClimateChangeadaptationisthereforeacritical,routineandnecessarycomponentoftheplanningprocessatalllevels”(UNFCCC,2012,p.11).

InitslatestAR6WIIIreport,theIPCCfurtherstatesthat“adaptationplaysakeyroleinreducingexposureandvulnerabilitytoclimatechange.Inecologicalsystems,adaptationmayhappenviaautonomousadjustmentswithinecologicalandevolutionaryprocesses.Forhumansystems,adaptationcanbeanticipatoryorreactive,aswellasincrementaland/ortransformational.Thelatterchangesthefundamentalattributesofasocial–ecologicalsysteminanticipationofclimatechangeanditsimpact.Adaptationissubjecttohardandsoftlimits”(IPCC,2022,p.7).

Referencestotransformationaladaptationreflectagrowingrecognitionthatinsomesituationsitisnotpossible,ordesirable,seektoprotectorrestoreaparticularenvironmentalandsocialstate,indeedthismayleadtomaladaptation.Consequently,amorefundamentalchangeprocessmayberequired(Lonsdaleetal.2015).Thisissignificantforadaptationplannersasitdemandsadifferent,moresystemicsetofquestionstobeaskedwhenconsideringbothclimatechangeimpactsandadaptationresponses.Insteadofasking“howcanwedothesamethingsinachangingclimate?”itrequiresustoconsiderwhetherthosethingsareinfactviableanddesirable.

ClimateAdaptationPlanning–AnOverview|1Introduction

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1.2AdaptationPlanning

Anadaptationstrategyoftenreferstoadocumentwhichoutlinesthevisionanddirectionofactionsandtheirexpectedoutcomes(EEA,Climate–ADAPT,2022).AdaptationPlansthensetouttheproposedactionstotransformthisvisionintoactions.Inpracticalterms,thedistinctionbetweenastrategyandplanisbeingmadealongtwodimensions.Astrategyconsistsofavisionwhileaplandescribesaroadmapwithconcreteactionstoimplementandrealisethevision.Moreimportantisthedistinctionbetweenadaptationplanningasanoutput(oftenintheformofareportordocument)andadaptationplanningasaprocess.Whileitisusefultocapturetheapproachtoadaptationplanninginasingledocument,itisthecontinuousprocessofadaptationplanningthatwillleadustomeaningfulactionswhichenhanceresilienceandreducevulnerability.

Theimportanceofhavingasystematicandrobustadaptationprocesshasbeenrecognisedformanyyearsand,inresponse,awiderangeofguidanceandtoolshavebeendeveloped.Virtuallyalloftheseresourcessharetheinsightthattheadaptationplanningprocesscanbebrokendownintocriticalphases(seeFigure1)toformaneffectiveframeworkforplanning.Intheirbasicstructure,thevariousframeworksdiffertoalimitedextent,servingasflexibleapproachesfordecision–makingunderclimatechange.Thecoreconceptsareoftenbasedonexperiencesindisasterriskreduction,sustainablelivelihoodsanddevelopmentandclimateadaptationprogramsofthepastandgenerallydescribeacontinuous,progressiveprocesswithdistinctstages.Critically,alladaptationplanningframeworksandconceptsareiterative;theyacknowledgethatadaptationrequiresadjustmentsinresponsetochangingknowledgeanddynamiccontexts.Adaptationisthereforeanon–goingprocesswheretheobjectiveistobe“welladapting”ratherthan“welladapted”.Ausefulanalogymaybetoviewadaptationasajourneyratherthanadestination.

OneoftheearlyframeworksthatbuildontheconceptofaniterativeadaptationplanningcycleistheUKCIPRisk,Uncertaintyanddecision–makingframework(WillowsandConnell2003).ThisframeworkformedthefoundationforthepracticaladaptationplanningtoolknownastheAdaptationWizard(UKCIP,2013).TheWizardisbasedona5–stepprocessdesignedtohelpanorganisationassessitsvulnerabilitytocurrentclimateandfutureclimatechange,identifyadaptationoptionsinresponsetokeyclimaterisks,andhelpthedevelopmentandimplementationofaclimatechangeadaptationstrategy(Climate–ADAPT,2022a).

TheAdaptationSupportTool(AST)oftheEuropeanEnvironmentalAgency(EEA)aspartoftheEuropeanClimateAdaptationPlatform(Climate–ADAPT,2022b)drawsheavilyontheprinciplesoftheAdaptationWizardandalsoencouragesaniterative,cyclicalapproachtoadaptationplanning.TheASTbreaksdowntheplanningprocessintosixphasesservingdifferentpurposes,whichinturnaredividedintodifferentstepsandsupplementedbyaccompanyingquestions.Afirststageaimstolaythegroundwork,identifytheproblemandtheobjectives.Thenextphaserevolvesaroundassessmentsofrisk,vulnerabilities,exposureandasaresultofthis,theidentification,reviewandappraisalofpossibleadaptationoptions.Athirdphasecontainstheimplementationoftheidentifiedadaptationoptions,includingthedevelopmentofactionplans.Asafourthphase,themonitoring,evaluationandreview/learningsoftheimplementedoptionscompletestheadaptationplanningcycle.

TheUNFCCCliststhefollowingobjectivesforadaptationplanningprocessesinitsguidelines(UNFCCC,2012):

1.Reducevulnerabilitytotheimpactsofclimatechange,bybuildingadaptivecapacityandresilience

2.Tofacilitatetheintegrationofclimatechangeadaptation,inacoherentmanner,intorelevantnewandexistingpolicies,programmesandactivities,inparticulardevelopmentplanningprocessesandstrategies,withinallrelevantsectorsandatdifferentlevels,asappropriate

3.Identifygapsincapacityandadaptationonanongoingbasisandtoaddressthesegaps

Forovertwentyyears,theimportanceofnationalleveladaptationhasbeenemphasisedbytheUNFCCCandisreflectedinspecificprocessesandinitiatives.In2001,theConferenceoftheParties(COP)totheUNFCCCestablishedtheLeastDevelopedCountries(LDC)workprogrammethatincludedthedevelopmentofnationaladaptationprogrammesofaction(NAPAs)tosupportLDCstoaddressthechallengeofclimatechangegiventheirparticularvulnerability.Technicalguidelinesforthenationaladaptationplanningprocesswere

1Introduction|ClimateAdaptationPlanning–AnOverview

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thendevelopedbytheLDCexpertgroup(UNFCCC/LEG2012),andtheseremainasimportantguidelinesforcountrieswhoarenowdevelopingnationaladaptationplans(NAPs).ThisprocesswasestablishedundertheCancunAdaptationFramework(CAF)toenablePartiestoformulateandimplementnationaladaptationplans(NAPs)as“ameansofidentifyingmedium–andlong–termadaptationneedsanddevelopingandimplementingstrategiesandprogrammes”(UNFCCC,2022).

1.2.1Interactive,FlexibleandInclusiveAdaptationPlanning

Allofthepreviouslymentionedframeworksarebuiltonprinciples,successfactorsandgoodpracticeconsiderations(Streetetal.2016);and/orkeyexperiences&guidingprinciples(UNFCCC2012).Themostcrucialandcommonlyagreedisthattheconceptoftheadaptationplanningcycleisnotmeanttobestrictlysequentialandlinear,anditisoftendepictedasacontinuouscycle.Whileeachoftheelementsmightcomplementeachother,andprocessesandactivitiescansubsequentlyfeedintofurtheractivitiesatalaterstage,theUKCIP&UNFCCChighlightthattheirguidanceisdesignedtobeusedinaflexiblewaysothatstakeholdersareabletochoosestagesandelementsthatfittheirparticularcontext.Gooddecision–makingalsoincludesgoingbacktoapreviousstageafterreceivingnewinformationornewdatahasbecomeavailable,andassessingpotentialnewadaptationoptions.

Hence,Streetetal.(2016)highlightthatdecisionsmightneedtoberevisitedinthelightofnewevidencetodeveloprobustadaptationoptions.Inaddition,pastexperienceshowsthatsuccessfuladaptationplanningprocessesshouldbeinclusive,involvingstakeholdersatcriticalpointsduringallphasesoftheprocess.Thesestakeholderscanbepolicymakers,communitygroups,non–governmentalorganizations,researchersandbusinesses,whocanaccompanyandinfluencetheNAPprocess.Streetetal.(2016)pointoutthatwithintheabove–mentionedgoalsandunderlyingcriteria,adaptationplanningshouldtrytoavoidmaladaptation;aprocessthatresultsinincreasedvulnerabilitytoclimatevariabilityandchange[…]andsignificantlyunderminescapacitiesoropportunitiesforpresentandfutureadaptation(Nobleetal,2014:1769).

1.3AdaptationPlanningatDifferentScales

Perhapsnotsurprisingly,muchofthefocusonadaptationplanningwithintheUNFCCCcontexthasbeenatthenationallevel.However,astheAdaptationWizardillustrates,muchprogressandinnovationinadaptationplanningapproacheshascomefromsub–nationalandorganisationallevels.Theinteractionsbetweenapproachestoadaptationplanningatdifferentspatialscalesisimportant.Therearebenefitsinconsistentapproaches,andinthecaseoftransboundaryadaptationsuchverticalandhorizonalcoordinationisessential.However,itisalsoimportantthatadaptationplanningreflectsandisinformedbythelocalsocial,economic,culturalandenvironmentalcontext,thereforeone–size–fits–allapproachesarerarely,ifever,effective.Exactlyhowapproachestoadaptationplanningaresynchronisedatdifferentspatialscalesoftendependsonthegovernancecontext.Forexample,inEurope,theEUAdaptationStrategyprovidesanoverarchingframeworkforadaptationplanningyetallowsforautonomyintheapproachtothedevelopmentofnationaladaptationplans.Therelationshipofthesenationaladaptationplansandwithsub–nationalprocessesvaries,howevergenerallyitcouldbeexpectedthatthenationallevelhelpstocoordinateactionsacrosslocaljurisdictions,especiallywheretheyrelatetonationalpriorities,whileprovidingsufficientdecision–makingspaceforlocallyinformedneedsandprioritiestobeaddressed.

2

AdaptationPlanningCycle

2Adaptationplanningcycle|ClimateAdaptationPlanning-AnOverview

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2AdaptationPlanningCycle

Asdescribedabove,therearenowawiderangeofadaptationplanningtoolsbasedupontheadaptationcycle,includingtheAdaptationSupportToolwhichisamajorfeatureontheEuropeanEnvironmentAgency(EEA)Climate–ADAPTwebsite.Someofthesetoolshavebeenadaptedforspecificsectorsorlocalities,forexamplethereisnowanUrbanAdaptationSupportTool(UAST1)toassistcities,townsandotherlocalauthoritiesindeveloping,implementingandmonitoringclimatechangeadaptationplans.Inthissection,weexaminetheadaptationcycleapproachinmoredetail.

Ratherthanfollowingthestepsofaspecifictool,wehavesummarisedthemainstagesoftheadaptationcycleasoutlinedinFigure1.Undereachofthesestagesweexplorehowadaptationplanningtoolsandframeworkshaveprioritisedandsequencedspecificadaptationplanningactions.Fromstudyingdifferentframeworksandapproaches,itisclearthatthenumberofstepsorstagesidentifieddoesnotrepresentasignificantpointofdifference;inmostcasesfewerstepssimplymeansthattwostepshavebeencombined.Assuch,differencesarelargelypresentationalandconcernthelevelofemphasisplacedonaspectsoftheplanningcycle,ratherthanrepresentingfundamentallydifferingapproaches.

1.Layingthegroundworkandaddressgaps

?LaunchingtheNAPprocess

?Stocktaking

2.Preparatoryelements

?Undertakinga

climatechangeriskassessment

?Identifying,reviewingandappraising

adaptationoptions

4.Reporting,monitoringandreview

?IntiatingtheMSEprocess

?M+Emetrics

?Institutional

considerations

3.Implementation

strategies

?Prioritisationapproach

?Developingactionplans

?Allocationofresponsibility

?Integratingclimatechangeadaptationinsectoral

developmentplanning

Figure1.AdaptationPlanningCycle(owngraph,basedonTonkin&TaylorInternationalLtd)

2.1Preparingthegroundforadaptation

Invirtuallyallconceptualisationsoftheadaptationplanningcycle,thereisanimportantpreparatoryphase.Thissetsthefoundationforthelaterstagesandifrushedoroverlooked,canleadtopoordecision–makingordecisionswhicharenotimplementedeffectivelybecausekeystakeholdershavenotbeeninvolved.Inthispaper,wehaveorganisedthepreparatoryelementsofvarioustoolsunderthetitle“Preparingthegroundforadaptation”usedinStep1oftheEuropeanEnvironmentAgency’sAdaptationSupportTool(AST),howeverwehavealso

1

https://climate-adapt.eea.europa.eu/en/knowledge/tools/urban-ast/

ClimateAdaptationPlanning-AnOverview|2Adaptationplanningcycle

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incorporatedinformationfrompreparatoryphasesofothertoolsandframeworkswhichuseanalternativelexicon.Forexample,toolssuchastheUKCIPAdaptationWizard(UKCIP,2013)refertothisstageas“GettingStarted”whereasStreetetal.(2016),referto“Scoping”.

2.1.1LaunchingtheNAPProcess

Theinitialphaseofadaptationplanningendeavourstoestablishthegroundworkforasuccessfuloverallapproach,settingitupinastructuredmannerandofferingthechancetoinfluencethesubsequentstagesoftheprocess.TheAdaptationWizard(UKCIP,2013)stressestheimportanceofestablishingbuildingblockswhichincludeunderstandinghowtheadaptationplanningprocessworkssotheusercanmakebestuseofit;engagingcolleaguesandgatheringateamtoworkonadaptationplanning(notingthatdifferentpeoplewillbeneededatdifferentstages);andobtainingseniormanagementsupportforthisprocess.Secondly,usersareencouragedtoreflectontheirmotivation(ortriggers)foradaptationaction.Thiscouldrangefromevidentexposuretoaclimaterelatedhazard,adesiretogainacompetitiveadvantage,areviewofexistingpoliciesornewleadershiporexpertisejoininganorganisation.Thirdly,itisimportanttoconsiderwhatyouwanttoachieveandthedifficultiesfaced.Theseconsiderationshelpensurethatorganisationalprioritiesareclear,andthatgapsandbarriersthathavebeenconsideredfromtheoutset.

TheUNFCCCtechnicalguidelines(UNFCCC/LEG2012)proposethecreationofaroadmapandclearlylineoutthenecessarystepstosetuptheprocess.Thiscouldalsotaketheshapeofastrategicdocumentsuchasanationalstrategythatmightbecreatedasaresultofthescopingphase.Itmightoutlinethestructureandguidanceonhowtoexecutetheadaptationplanningprocess,establishingclearresponsibilities,settingmilestonestoaccomplishandlayingoutexpectedoutputsfortheadaptationplanningprocess.

As,identifiedbyUKCIP(2013),obtainingpoliticalsupportforadaptationplanningprocessesiscrucial.Thismighttaketheformofrecommendationsfromahigherlevelofgovernance,orspecificlegalframeworksandobligationsthatgohandinhandwiththem.IntheEuropeancontext,theEEAstatesthat“crediblepoliticalcommitmentincreasesthepoliticalrelevanceofadaptation,i.e.itspriorityrelativetootherpolicyissues,atalllevels”(EEA,2022)andcanpotentiallyprovideastrongmotivationtoadaptationactorsatotherlevels.

Acrucialelementofthescopingphaseistheinitialengagementofpolicymakersandstakeholders.Thepreparatorystageisanopportunitytoinformstakeholdersontheimportanceofadaptationanddevelopappropriatemessagesinthemostsuitableformatsfordifferenttargetaudiences(EEA,2022).TheASTencouragesraisingunderstandingandawarenessofadaptationmeasuresthroughavarietyofformats,includingface–to–faceconsultation,internetplatformsandmassmedia.Onabroaderscale,theseeffortscouldbecoordinatedwithinanofficialclimatechangecommunicationstrategy,inordertoraisepublicawareness.Stakeholderengagementisvitalinallstagesoftheadaptationplanningcycle,fromunderstandingvulnerability,attitudestorisk,understandingpreferencesregardingadaptationoptionsandMonitoringandEvaluation(M&E).Asaresult,earlymappingofstakeholdersisimportant,notingthatthiswillrequireregularupdatingasadaptationplanningproceeds.

WithintheframeworkoftheAST,theEEAproposestheestablishmentofacoreteam,whichshouldbegivenaclearmandatetomanagetheentireadaptationprocess.Thisteam,whichmaybecomposedofstaffatthenationalorsubnationallevelwithlongexperienceinweather/climate–relatedissuesmorebroadly,willhaveaspecialroleinshapingandguidingtherestoftheprocessbydiscussingprioritiesandpolicycyclesandestablishingdecision–makingcriteria.Aclearunderstandingshouldalsobedevelopedofwhatmethodsandtoolsshouldbeusedtocarryouttherestoftheplanningprocess,includingassessmentmethodologies.Thishelpstosetthestageforthesecondphaseoftheplanningcycle.

Anotherimportantpointwithinthefirstphaseistheopendiscussionofpotentialconflicts.Thedevelopmentofacommonterminologyandacommonunderstandingwithinandoutsidetheresponsibleauthoritiesandtheinvolvedandaffectedstakeholderspotentiallyhelpstopreventconflicts.

2Adaptationplanningcycle|ClimateAdaptationPlanning-AnOverview

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“Preparingtheground”canalsobeausefulstagetobegintoconsiderthefinancialresourcesneededandidentifyingpotentialsourcesoflong–termfunding,somethingwhichislikelytobelinkedtogainingpoliticalcommitmentandexploringmotivationsandobjectives.TherelevanceofmainstreamingisalsomentionedinStep1.3oftheAST,whereitisnotedthatmainstreaming(i.e.integratingclimateadaptationintoexistingprocesses,instrumentsandstructures)canimproveefficiency,preventunnecessarycostsandincreasetakeupofadaptationactions.Itmaythereforebeusefultomapadaptationopportunitiesontotheexistingpolicylandscape.Timingcanbeacrucialfactorinthisregard,forexample,ifasectoralpolicyisduetobereviseditmaypresentatimelyopportunitytointegrateadaptationplanning.Inturn,thesetimingsmaydrivewhichsectorsorlocationsareprioritised.Climateadaptationplanningmustbebothopportunisticandpragmatic.

2.1.2Stocktaking

Withinthe“preparingthegroundforadaptation”stageofthecycle,theAST,UNFCCC,andStreetetal.frameworksemphasiseaseparate"stocktaking"step;aninventoryofexistinginformationandanalysisoncurrentpast,presentandfutureclimatedata,fromthenationaltotheregionallevel.Thisstepisimportantasithighlightsgapsininformationwhichcouldeitherbefilledwithfurtherworkormaypartoftheinherentuncertainnatureofadaptationplanning.Collectingandanalysingthisdataandinformationandestablishingadatabasecouldinturnbevaluabletosparkadiscussiononaspectssuchasobjectivesandprioritysectors.

IntheEuropeancontext,theEEAhasdevelopedavarietyofindicatorstodescribeobservedandprojectedclimatechangeimpactsandpublishes,amongothers,periodicindicator–basedassessmentonclimatechange,impactsandvulnerabilityinareport2,whichincludesanoverviewoftheindicators,aswellastheprevailingpolicycontext.Severaldatabasesprovideabasisforpublicandprivatestakeholdersonthetopicsofclimateservices3,pastweather,climate–relatedevents4andinsurance5.

Anotherbuildingblockfortheadaptationplanningprocessisthestocktakingofongoingactivitiesonadaptation.Thestocktakingofactivitiesthatarenotnec