IUPA: a tool for the evaluation of the general usefulness of practices for adaptation to climate change and variability

Abstract

A prototype multi-purpose index is proposed for use in the evaluation of practices for adaptation to climate variability and change. The Index of Usefulness of Practices for Adaptation (IUPA) allows the user to assign weights and scores to a set of user-defined evaluation criteria. Individual criterion scores are aggregated into a final index value. Both the final value and the individual parameter scores provide useful information for improved decision making in the context of climate change. An innovative aspect of IUPA is that guidance is given to the user through the inclusion of recommendations on evaluation criteria and criterion-specific weight factors. These have been defined by a panel of experts from the Latin-American and Caribbean Region (LAC). Application of the index is demonstrated for an existing adaptation practice from the Coquimbo Region, Chile. The IUPA tool is recommended for use in the evaluation ofadaptation practices in their design, implementation and post-implementation phase. It is practical for a quick first assessment or when limited financial resources are available, making the tool especially useful for practitioners in the developing world. The index is flexible both from the perspective of its construction and use. Additional expert opinions can easily be included in the future versions of the tool

When not every response to climate change is a good one: Identifying principles for sustainable adaptation

“…In terms of climate change, adaptation has been defined as the process or adjustments through which people reduce the adverse effects of climate on 8 Eriksen et al their health and well-being, and take advantage of the opportunities that their climatic environment provides. Other definitions have argued more forcefully that adaptation includes the reduction of vulnerability (Smit et al, 2000;Debels et al, 2009). Leary (1999) and Burton et al (2002) referred to climate adaptation as a wide range of behavioural adjustments that households and institutions make (including practices, processes, legislation, regulations and incentives) to mandate or facilitate changes in socio-economic systems, aimed at reducing vulnerability to climatic variability and change.…”

“…However, there remains substantial uncertainty in the rate and behaviour of these changes (Christensen et al, 2007). Hence, timely and local adaptation to 'new unknown severity and frequency of hazards' under a changing climate becomes imperative (Debels et al, 2009). In 2005, the community living in this area faced the most severe event in 142 years when 162.2 mm precipitation fell in 24 h. The material damages were massive, with 100 out of 282 houses partially or completely destroyed (DMC, 2005;ONEMI, 2005).…”

Percepción al cambio climático y a la gestión del agua: aportes de las estrategias metodológicas cualitativas para su comprensión

“…Aquellas investigaciones que identifican de entre todas las estrategias de adaptación las alternativas que serían más adecuadas para su aplicación, algunas veces, mediante la generación de un ranking. Ambas etapas son construidas gracias a la consulta a expertos (DOLAN et al, 2001 ;ADGER et al, 2004 ;BROOKS et al, 2005;VAN DER VEEN & LOGTMEIJER, 2005;ALDUNANCE et al, 2008;DEBELS et al, 2008;DE BRUIN et al, 2009) , 2003). Menos son los autores que plantean la relación entre estos factores socioeconómicos de la capacidad adaptativa de una comunidad o sociedad y los elementos subjetivos de los ciudadanos que conducen hacia la definición e implementación de medidas adaptativas eficientes.…”

Prioritizing Climate Change Adaptations in Canadian Arctic Communities

“…These tools range from those that are solely devoted to the prioritization of adaptation options (e.g., [23,[31][32][33][34][35][36][37][38]), to decision support methods embedded within overall anticipatory adaptation processes and development frameworks aimed at mainstreaming adaptation into development [24,25,[39][40][41][42][43][44][45][46] (see Section 2.1.2). Most tools use multi-criteria analysis (MCA) to evaluate the potential performance of adaptation options, although cost-benefit analysis (CBA) and cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) have also been proposed as well as analytic hierarchy process (AHP).…”