Making the Right Choices - Prioritizing Adaptation Options

This tutorial introduces the concept of prioritizing adaptation options during adaptation planning and implementation. At the outset of any adaptation initiative, it is important to assess the implications of climate change on the natural systems (e.g. biodiversity) and the human society (e.g. human health) to determine how and to what extent they will be affected. There are a number of measures that can be implemented to reduce risk and vulnerability. Due to financial and human capacity constraints, not all actions can be implemented simultaneously and it is important to study the implications of all measures. Knowledge of the implications such as costs and benefits for each adaptation option will form part of the strategic decision-making process during adaptation planning. This tutorial will introduce the process of appraisal and prioritization and some tools that are used in the adaptation options appraisal process once adaptation options have been selected for consideration.