Climate Change Adaptation Manual

Andrea Prutsch is an adaptation policy advisor in the Department of Environmental Impact Assessment and Climate Change at the Environment Agency, Austria.Torsten Grothmann is senior scientist at the Department of Ecological Economics, University of Oldenburg, Germany.Sabine McCallum is Head of the Department of Environmental Impact Assessment and Climate Change at the Environment Agency, Austria.Inke Schauser is an adaptation policy advisor in the Department of Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation (KomPass) at the Federal Environment Agency, Germany.Rob Swart is coordinator of international climate change adaptation research at Alterra, Wageningen University and Research Centre, Netherlands.

This Climate Change Adaptation Manual presents a variety of adaptation approaches and practical experiences across Europe and provides a comprehensive overview of the state of the art in other continents. I am confident that this book will be useful to adaptation practitioners and of interest to all concerned by adaptation. –Humberto Delgado Rosa, Director of Directorate C (Mainstreaming Adaptation and Low Carbon Technology), DG Climate Action, European Commission, BelgiumEEA is convinced that this publication strengthens the knowledge on adaptation to climate change and that it will support, for a wide range of stakeholders, related policy developments and their implementation.–Hans Bruyninckx, Executive Director of the European Environment Agency, EEA, DenmarkThis manual is very timely in offering practical guidance on relevant key issues for climate change adaptation. It makes an important contribution in supporting the implementation of high-quality adaptation strategies and measures. –Michael Mullan, Team Leader – Climate Change Adaptation and Development, Environment Directorate, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), FranceThe Manual organizes its guidance around ten principles for adaptation that are broadly applicable in any region. The Manual makes abundantly clear that meaningful adaptation is possible, now, regardless of current uncertainty. It is critical reading for all who want to engage in reducing vulnerability to climate change, from practitioners to policy makers and researchers. –Martin Parry, Grantham Institute and Centre for Environmental Policy, Imperial College London, UK

• Part 1: Introduction and Overview 1. Guiding principles for good adaptation and structure of this book 2. Facing the Specific Challenges of Adaptation 3. Adaptation Research: Where do we Stand and Where should we go? 4. Adaptation Policy Initiatives in Europe Part 2: Phases of Adaptation Processes and Guiding Principles for Good Adaptation 5. Explore Potential Climate Change Impacts and Vulnerabilities and Identify Priority Concerns 6. Initiate Adaptation, Ensure Commitment and Management 7. Build Knowledge and Awareness 8. Identify and Cooperate with Relevant Stakeholders 9. Explore a Wide Spectrum of Adaptation Options 10. Prioritise Adaptation Options 11. Work with Uncertanties 12. Avoid Maladaptation 13. Modify and Develop New Policies, Structures and Processes 14. Moniter and Evaluate Systematicall Part 3: State of Art Outside Europe 15. Adaptation Experiences in other Industrialised Countries and in Development Countries Part 4: Lessons Learned 16 Lessons Learned from Practical Cases of Adaptation to Climate Change in Industralised Countries