Selecting & appraising adaptation options

Before adaptation measures can be selected, the range of identified adaptation options should be appraised in terms of their contribution to the realizing the identified objectives, potentially using such criteria as:

• Effectiveness – meeting objectives, not introduce perverse effects nor limit future adaptation
• Efficiency – reductions in social damage justify actions (and win-win measures)
• Equity – considers effects on vulnerable groups, including economic, social, cultural and knowledge distribution considerations
• Flexibility – allows adjustments and incremental implementation
• Sustainability – contribute to sustainability and options themselves are sustainable
• Acceptability – culturally, socially, environmentally and politically
• Urgency -  importance of timing of required action
• Costs – economic, social and environmental (focus on estimates of size rather than precise figures)
• Timing – consistent with policy, investment, maintenance and other planning cycles
• Coherence – consistency with other development goals and priorities (including mitigation), and not just a ‘bolt-on’.  Includes potential conflicts and synergies within and across sectors
• Robust – reduce vulnerability under current climate, low-regrets, incorporate safety margins, flexible and mindful of actions by others
• Dependencies – actions, legislation, regulatory framework, incentives (existing and gaps), investments, externalities, etc. that are needed as pre-requisite to implementation. Also leads to the potential for identifying synergies (win-win options) and conflicts.

This appraisal should also consider:

• The limitations of proposed adaptation options;
• Potential for autonomous adaptation – extent of autonomous adaptation and need for planned adaptation to guide/counter autonomous adaptation;
• Identification of incremental components of adaptation measures;
• Potential conflicts and synergies with other objectives (social, economic, legal, and related policies and regulations);
• Non-climatic factors;
• Identification of contingencies as part of an adaptation strategy – measures that deal with the deficiencies of other proposed options; and
• Coping, transitional and transformational measures.

There may be practical, cost-effective options that deliver the required adaptation and also minimise the risks associated with implementation. These options are normally referred to as no-regrets, low-regrets, and win-win options, and should be used where possible, along with a flexible or adaptive management approach.