Framework for the Identification of Adaptation Technologies

The Coastal Sector

There is huge variation in the ecological make up of costal ecosystems. These can include tidal deltas, low-lying coastal plains, sandy beaches, barrier islands, coastal wetlands, estuaries and lagoons, coral reefs and atolls (UNFCCC, 2006). This variation dictates differentiated climatic impacts and risk (UNFCCC, 2006). The figure below outlines the framework used for assessing the general changes, impacts, compounding factors, needs and challenges used for identifying adaptation technologies.

Figure 1: Climate Changes, Impacts and Needs in the Coastal Sector (Sources: Elliot et al., 2011; Field, 2014; IGES, 2013; IPCC, 2014a; IPCC, 2014b; Linham and Nicholls, 2010; UNFCCC, 2006)

The Water Sector

The impacts of climate change on the water sector have been highlighted as particularly critical, especially for areas already under extreme climatic and hydrological stress. Impacts will be differential around the globe and their specific magnitude and location remain unclear. Figure 2 below is the framework used for assessing the climatic changes, impacts, compounding factors, needs and challenges which were considered for identifying adaptation technologies.

Figure 2: Climate Changes, Impacts and Needs in the Water Sector (Sources: Elliot et al., 2011; Field, 2014; IGES, 2013; IPCC, 2014a; IPCC, 2014b; UNFCCC, 2006)

Disaster Prevention

Disaster prevention approaches encompass policies and practices that aim to reduce disaster risks and minimise damage in the event of a disaster (Clements et al., 2011). It defines a preventative rather than a reactive response and as such, can be considered a strategy that also contributes to adaptation, mitigation and development aims in the context of climate extremes and disasters (Field et al., 2014). Figure 3 indicates the climatic changes, impacts, compounding factors, associated needs and challenges for adaptation technologies for disaster prevention.

Figure 3: Climate Changes, Impacts and Needs in the Disaster Prevention Sector (Sources: Clements et al., 2011; Field, 2014; IPCC, 2014a; IPCC, 2014b)

The Agriculture Sector

The agriculture sector is very broad, with a variety of approaches, practices and techniques for food production being employed in a diverse range of ecosystems. The sector is often prioritised by countries in their adaptation endevours (UNFCCC, 2014a), and there are many approaches being used to respond to the experienced and elected changes induced by climate change. Figure 4 indicates the framework adopted for assessing the climatic changes, related impacts, compounding factors, needs and challenges pertaining to the agriculture sector.

Figure 4: Climate Changes, Impacts and Needs in the Agriculture Sector (Sources: Clements et al., 2011; Field, 2014; IGES, 2013; IPCC, 2014a; IPCC, 2014b; UNFCCC, 2006)

References:

1. Clements, R., J. Haggar, A. Quezada, and J. Torres, 2011. Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation – Agriculture Sector. X. Zhu (Ed.). Roskilde: UNEP Risø Centre.
2. Elliot, M., A. Armstrong, J. Lobuglio, and J. Bartram, 2011. Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation – The Water Sector. T. De Lopez (Ed.). Roskilde: UNEP Risø Centre.
3. Field, C.B., V.R. Barros, K.J. Mach, M.D. Mastrandrea, M. van Aalst, W.N. Adger, D.J. Arent, J. Barnett, R. Betts, T.E. Bilir, J. Birkmann, J. Carmin, D.D. Chadee, A.J. Challinor, M. Chatterjee, W. Cramer, D.J. Davidson, Y.O. Estrada, J.-P. Gattuso, Y. Hijioka, O. Hoegh-Guldberg, H.-Q. Huang, G.E. Insarov, R.N. Jones, R.S. Kovats, P. Romero Lankao, J.N. Larsen, I.J. Losada, J.A. Marengo, R.F. McLean, L.O. Mearns, R. Mechler, J.F. Morton, I. Niang, T. Oki, J.M. Olwoch, M. Opondo, E.S. Poloczanska, H.-O. Pörtner, M.H. Redsteer, A. Reisinger, A. Revi, D.N. Schmidt, M.R. Shaw, W. Solecki, D.A. Stone, J.M.R. Stone, K.M. Strzepek, A.G. Suarez, P. Tschakert, R. Valentini, S. Vicuña, A. Villamizar, K.E. Vincent, R. Warren, L.L. White, T.J. Wilbanks, P.P. Wong, and G.W. Yohe, 2014: Technical Summary. In: Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Field, C.B., V.R. Barros, D.J. Dokken, K.J. Mach, M.D. Mastrandrea, T.E. Bilir, M. Chatterjee, K.L. Ebi, Y.O. Estrada, R.C. Genova, B. Girma, E.S. Kissel, A.N. Levy, S. MacCracken, P.R. Mastrandrea, and L.L. White (Eds.) Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, USA: Cambridge University Press.
4. IGES. 2013. Technical Report on Technology Gaps and Needs in Asia Pacific. Hayama, Japan: IGES.
5. IPCCa, 2014. Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part A: Global and Sectoral Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Field, C.B., V.R. Barros, D.J. Dokken, K.J. Mach, M.D. Mastrandrea, T.E. Bilir, M. Chatterjee, K.L. Ebi, Y.O. Estrada, R.C. Genova, B. Girma, E.S. Kissel, A.N. Levy, S. MacCracken, P.R. Mastrandrea, and L.L. White (Eds.). Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, USA: Cambridge University Press.
6. IPCCb, 2014. Climate Change 2014: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Part B: Regional Aspects. Contribution of Working Group II to the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. Barros, V.R., C.B. Field, D.J. Dokken, M.D. Mastrandrea, K.J. Mach, T.E. Bilir, M. Chatterjee, K.L. Ebi, Y.O. Estrada, R.C. Genova, B. Girma, E.S. Kissel, A.N. Levy, S. MacCracken, P.R. Mastrandrea, and L.L. White (Eds.). Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, USA: Cambridge University Press.
7. Linham, M. M. and R.J. Nicholls, 2010. Technologies for Climate Change Adaptation – Coastal Erosion and Flooding. X. Zhu (Ed.). Roskilde: UNEP Risø Centre.
8. UNFCCC, 2006. Technologies for adaptation to climATe chAnge. Bonn: United Nations Framework Convention For Climate Change.