Development of Adaptation Measures for Water Resources

Abstract

Many countries are preparing national climate change action plans that describe specific m easures they are taking to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to the potential effects of climate change. Am ong the reasons for preparing such plans is that climate change is likely to occur and many anticipatory measures that would be taken in response to climate change are no-regret measures that will produce benefits even if climate does not change. Additionally, these plans can serve as communications required by the Framework Convention on Climate Change. This article proposes an assessment process for anticipatory adaptation m easures that will enable countries to identify, select and implement measures to adapt to climate change. These measures anticipate potential climate changes and thus must be flexible enough to m eet objectives under a wide variety of future clim ate conditions. The process builds on assessments of vulnerability by focusing on adaptation m easures for the most sensitive regions, or populations within a country. Potential anticipatory adaptation measures are identified and two or three are chosen based on expert judgement regarding which measures would produce the greatest benefits and be easiest to implement. Formal analytic techniques are used to assess the benefits and costs of each of the m easu res and to evaluate barriers to implementation. The measure that has the greatest net benefits and is easiest to implement is selected. The final step in the process is preparing an implementation plan. The application of the process is illustrated by examining a hypothetical reservoir threatened by climate change.