4.1 How to decide which options to include in an adaptation strategy?

4.1 How to decide which options to include in an adaptation strategy?

Many criteria exist to evaluate adaptation options. Evaluations typically include an assesment of effectiveness and efficiency. Effective options reduce a particular vulnerability or number of vulnerabilities to a desired level. Efficient options are those whose benefits exceed costs and are more cost-effective than the alternatives. Such benefits can be economic, social or environmental and in a feasibility assessment all three aspects have to be taken into account. This section provides information and guidance for the appraisal of adaptation options. You will also find information on additional criteria such as urgency, sustainability, co‐benefits and side effects, reversibility, flexibility, resilience, robustness as well as political and cultural acceptability.