A Framework for Identification, Assessment and Prioritization of Climate Change Adaptation Measures for Roads and Railways

Severe accidents and high costs associated with weather-related events already occur in today’s climate. Unless preventive measures are taken, the costs are expected to increase in future due to ongoing climate change. However, the risk reduction measures are costly as well and may result in unwanted impacts. Therefore, it is important to identify, assess and prioritize which measures are necessary to undertake, as well as where and when these are to be undertaken. To be able to make such evaluations, robust (scientifically based), transparent and systematic assessments and valuations are required. This article describes a framework to assess the cause-and-effect relationships and how to estimate the costs and benefits as a basis to assess and prioritize measures for climate adaptation of roads and railways. The framework includes hazard identification, risk analysis and risk assessment, identification, monetary and non-monetary evaluation of possible risk reduction measures and a step regarding distribution-, goal- and sensitivity analyses. The results from applying the framework shall be used to prioritize among potential risk reduction measures as well as when to undertake them.

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From vision to action: roadmapping as a strategic method and tool to implement climate change adaptation – the example of the roadmap ‘water sensitive urban design 2020’

Water Science & Technology ◽

10.2166/wst.2016.065 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 73 (9) ◽

pp. 2251-2259 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

J. U. Hasse ◽

D. E. Weingaertner

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Urban Design ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Regional Climate ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

Support Tool ◽

Process Support ◽

Development Processes ◽

Water Sensitive Urban Design

As the central product of the BMBF-KLIMZUG-funded Joint Network and Research Project (JNRP) ‘dynaklim – Dynamic adaptation of regional planning and development processes to the effects of climate change in the Emscher-Lippe region (North Rhine Westphalia, Germany)’, the Roadmap 2020 ‘Regional Climate Adaptation’ has been developed by the various regional stakeholders and institutions containing specific regional scenarios, strategies and adaptation measures applicable throughout the region. This paper presents the method, elements and main results of this regional roadmap process by using the example of the thematic sub-roadmap ‘Water Sensitive Urban Design 2020’. With a focus on the process support tool ‘KlimaFLEX’, one of the main adaptation measures of the WSUD 2020 roadmap, typical challenges for integrated climate change adaptation like scattered knowledge, knowledge gaps and divided responsibilities but also potential solutions and promising chances for urban development and urban water management are discussed. With the roadmap and the related tool, the relevant stakeholders of the Emscher-Lippe region have jointly developed important prerequisites to integrate their knowledge, to clarify vulnerabilities, adaptation goals, responsibilities and interests, and to foresightedly coordinate measures, resources, priorities and schedules for an efficient joint urban planning, well-grounded decision-making in times of continued uncertainties and step-by-step implementation of adaptation measures from now on.

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Insights on Urban and Periurban Adaptation Strategies Based on Stakeholders’ Perceptions on Hard and Soft Responses to Climate Change

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11030647 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 647 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Pablo Martinez-Juarez ◽

Aline Chiabai ◽

Cristina Suárez ◽

Sonia Quiroga

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Common Ground ◽

Basque Country ◽

Local Level ◽

Adaptation Strategies ◽

Local Context ◽

Costs And Benefits ◽

Adaptation To Climate Change ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

Impacts Of Climate Change

Adapting to expected impacts of climate change is a task shared by multiple institutions and individuals, but much of this work falls over local and regional authorities, which has made them experts over the issue. At the same time, adaptation to climate change has been a research interest in different academic fields; while private companies provide research and development efforts on the issue. Views from perspectives may contain common ground and discrepancies, but benefits from the discussion may differ among these three sectors. This study shows the application of collaborative approaches to analyze impacts and adaptation measures at a local level. A stakeholder workshop was held in the city of Bilbao to discuss impacts of climate change and adaptation in the local context of the Basque Country. The contributions were proposed on three axes: impacts from climate change, good practices proposed or already in action, and costs and benefits derived from those strategies. Participants were asked to rank a series of measures and practices extracted from their previous inputs. These measures were analyzed after applying bootstrapping techniques, according to the perceived costs and benefits assigned to each of the grouped measures and practices. Participants estimated that groups containing green adaptation measures and those that had potentially positive impacts over climate change mitigation were the most efficient measures, as reduced costs combined with high benefits could lead to win–win adaptation strategies, while grey infrastructures were seen as providing high benefits at high costs.

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Climate Change Adaptation Measures for Buildings—A Scoping Review

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12051721 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (5) ◽

pp. 1721 ◽

Cited By ~ 4

Author(s):

Anna Eknes Stagrum ◽

Erlend Andenæs ◽

Tore Kvande ◽

Jardar Lohne

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Built Environment ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Empirical Studies ◽

Climate Change Impacts ◽

Climate Scenarios ◽

Successful Operation ◽

Scientific Publications ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

General Studies

As the climate changes globally and locally, the built environment will be subject to different climatic exposure than in the past. Adaptation measures are required to ensure the long-term integrity and successful operation of the built environment. This study examines literature on climate adaptation measures for buildings through a scoping literature review. It is centered around the main journals in the field of climate adaptation of the built environment, then expanded to map the extent of scientific publications about climate adaptation in general. Studies that regard future climate scenarios have been of particular interest. The majority of the identified literature concerns climate change impacts on buildings in warm climates, with overheating being seen as the greatest challenge. Additionally, few empirical studies are found; most identified research is based on computer simulations or literature reviews. The volume of research on the consequences of climate change on buildings in cold regions is surprisingly small, considering the pecuniary stakes involved. The predictions of climate scenarios suggest regulatory/policy measures on climate adaptation should be taken as quickly as possible to avoid greater costs in the future. However, further research into future scenarios is also essential.

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Assessing the vulnerability of urban forests to climate change

Environmental Reviews ◽

10.1139/er-2013-0078 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 22 (3) ◽

pp. 311-321 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

C. Ordóñez ◽

P.N. Duinker

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Urban Forest ◽

Urban Forests ◽

Urban Trees ◽

Species Selection ◽

General Notion ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

Vulnerability Assessments ◽

Climate Vulnerability

Climate adaptation is being embraced by many municipalities worldwide. An element of this is the planting and protection of urban trees. However, the fact that climate change will also have an impact on urban trees has been largely overlooked. We argue that climate vulnerability assessments are necessary for addressing climate adaptation in urban forests and contribute to successful climate adaptation in cities. We review and integrate the literature on climate vulnerability and urban forests to explore how the general notion of urban forest vulnerability to climate change can be developed into an operational framework for undertaking a vulnerability assessment. The framework characterizes climate exposure, impact, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity, as well as nonclimatic drivers and factors, in urban forests. The most important themes in this discussion include urban tree species selection and diversity, naturalization, resource access, social awareness and engagement, budget and economic valuation, liability issues, and governance structures. Climate change vulnerability assessments help us understand how and why urban forests are vulnerable to climate change, identify future areas for research, and determine what adaptation measures could be included in urban forest management. These assessments help bring climate change to the forefront of the decision-making process and contribute to successful urban adaptation to climate change.

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Participatory integrated assessment of flood protection measures for climate adaptation in Dhaka

Environment and Urbanization ◽

10.1177/0956247811433538 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 24 (1) ◽

pp. 197-213 ◽

Cited By ~ 27

Author(s):

Anika Nasra Haque ◽

Stelios Grafakos ◽

Marijk Huijsman

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Integrated Assessment ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Global Climate ◽

Flood Protection ◽

High Rate ◽

Future Climate Change ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

The Government ◽

The City

Dhaka is one of the largest megacities in the world and its population is growing rapidly. Due to its location on a deltaic plain, the city is extremely prone to detrimental flooding, and risks associated with this are expected to increase further in the coming years due to global climate change impacts as well as the high rate of urbanization the city is facing. The lowest-lying part of Dhaka, namely Dhaka East, is facing the most severe risk of flooding. Traditionally, excess water in this part of the city was efficiently stored in water ponds and gradually drained into rivers through connected canals. However, the alarming increase in Dhaka’s population is causing encroachment of these water retention areas because of land scarcity. The city’s natural drainage is not functioning well and the area is still not protected from flooding, which causes major threats to its inhabitants. This situation increases the urgency to adapt effectively to current flooding caused by climate variability and also to the impacts of future climate change. Although the government is planning several adaptive measures to protect the area from floods, a systematic framework to analyze and assess them is lacking. The objective of this paper is to develop an integrated framework for the assessment and prioritization of various (current and potential) adaptation measures aimed at protecting vulnerable areas from flooding. The study identifies, analyzes, assesses and prioritizes adaptive initiatives and measures to address flood risks in the eastern fringe area, and the adaptation assessment is conducted within the framework of multi-criteria analysis (MCA) methodology. MCA facilitates the participation of stakeholders and hence allows normative judgements, while incorporating technical expertise in the adaptation assessment. Based on the assessment, adaptive measures are prioritized to indicate which actions should be implemented first. Such a participatory integrated assessment of adaptation options is currently lacking in the decision-making process in the city of Dhaka and could greatly help reach informed and structured decisions in the development of adaptation strategies for flood protection.

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Bridging Gaps: Connecting Climate Change Risk Assessments with Disaster Risk Reduction and Climate Change Adaptation Agendas

10.1007/978-3-030-80791-7_4 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 65-80

Author(s):

Shona K. Paterson ◽

Kristen Guida

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Risk Reduction ◽

Ecosystem Functioning ◽

Disaster Risk Reduction ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Disaster Risk ◽

Risk Assessments ◽

Climate Change Risk ◽

Climate Action ◽

Climate Adaptation Planning

AbstractChanging climates and increasing variability, in combination with maladaptive societal responses, present many threats and risks to both social and biophysical systems. The outcomes of such changes will progressively affect all aspects of ecosystem functioning including social, political, and economic landscapes. Coordination between the three frameworks that govern risk at national and subnational scales, climate change risk assessments, climate adaptation planning and disaster risk reduction (DRR), is often lacking or limited. This has resulted in a siloed and fragmented approach to climate action. By examining risk as a dynamic social construction that is reimagined and reinvented by society over time, this chapter explores how a greater degree of cohesion between these three frameworks might be achieved.

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Projected vegetation changes are amplified by the combination of climate change, socio-economic changes and hydrological climate adaptation measures

Land Use Policy ◽

10.1016/j.landusepol.2017.12.071 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 72 ◽

pp. 547-562 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Yasmijn A.M. van der Knaap ◽

Martha M. Bakker ◽

Shah Jamal Alam ◽

Jan-Philip M. Witte ◽

Rien Aerts ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Vegetation Changes ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

Economic Changes

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Improving the practice of economic analysis of climate change adaptation

Journal of Benefit-Cost Analysis ◽

10.1515/jbca-2014-9004 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 5 (03) ◽

pp. 445-467 ◽

Cited By ~ 9

Author(s):

Jia Li ◽

Michael Mullan ◽

Jennifer Helgeson

Keyword(s):

Climate Change ◽

Decision Making ◽

Economic Analysis ◽

Climate Change Adaptation ◽

Climate Adaptation ◽

Investment Project ◽

Current Evidence ◽

Adaptation Measures ◽

The Us ◽

Adaptation Decision

Abstract:The development of national and sectoral climate change adaptation strategies is burgeoning in the US and elsewhere in response to damages from extreme events and projected future risks from climate change. Increasingly, decision makers are requesting information on the economic damages of climate change as well as costs, benefits, and tradeoffs of alternative actions to inform climate adaptation decisions. This paper provides a practical view of the applications of economic analysis to aid climate change adaptation decision making, with a focus on benefit-cost analysis (BCA). We review the recent developments and applications of BCA with implications for climate risk management and adaptation decision making, both in the US and other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. We found that BCA is still in early stages of development for evaluating adaptation decisions, and to date is mostly being applied to investment project-based appraisals. Moreover, the best practices of economic analysis are not fully reflected in the BCAs of climate adaptation-relevant decisions. The diversity of adaptation measures and decision-making contexts suggest that evaluation of adaptation measures may require multiple analytical methods. The economic tools and information would need to be transparent, accessible, and match with the decision contexts to be effective in enhancing decision making. Based on the current evidence, a set of analytical considerations is proposed for improving economic analysis of climate adaptation that includes the need to better address uncertainty and to understand the cross-sector and general equilibrium effects of sectoral and national adaptation policy.

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