Assessing Adaptation Knowledge in Europe: Vulnerability to Climate Change - Final Report

There is extensive need in assessing risks and vulnerabilities to climate change because observed climate change has already led to a wide range of impacts on environmental systems and society with increased damage costs from natural disasters.

This report is a knowledge assessment study designed to synthesise the frameworks, processes and methods being used to assess vulnerability in Europe.

It describes the concepts and definitions covering impacts, vulnerability, risk, resilience, adaptive capacity. A selection of European research projects focusing on national and transnational level assessments are reviewed. The current status of European Member States’ risk and vulnerability assessments are analysed initially through the country information pages on Climate-ADAPT. The study then synthesised the information from EU research projects and EU MS to provide a reference framework that can be shared with those who are considering developing risk and vulnerability assessments. Finally lessons learned, gaps, challenges and recommendations are provided.

The primary focus for the task is on vulnerability assessment methods (and related concepts of impact, risk and adaptive capacity) that have been undertaken at the national level (characterised by a method applied to multiple sectors). Individual sector or, city level assessments are not part of the study.