Climate Change Vulnerability Assessment and Adaptation Tools

A resource through which a matrix of climate change vulnerability assessment and adaptation tool characteristics can be found and downloaded. The tools included are not a comprehensive list of tools necessary to conduct climate-relating planning activities. Rather, they are provided to help communities focus on a set of tools to get started in planning for climate change. The tools are divided into sections according to function. Process Tools: are those that will help a community design and conduct a planning process that incorporates the unique elements that address the vulnerabilities, risks and uncertainties inherent in climate-related planning. Portals: give access to other tools and/or data that may be important in climate work. Analytical Tools: allow planners to investigate current conditions and ecosystem processes, determine the effects of potential future conditions, and explore scenarios to determine potential effects of planning decisions. Visualization Tools: allow users to build unique tools and simulations that enable stakeholder engagement though the use of pictures or web-based tools. Socio-economic Tools: provide community level socio-economic data that allows planners and stakeholders to visualize, explore, and understand the social impacts that could result from future hazards and climate change. Natural Resource Tools: can be used to assess the vulnerability of ecosystems or specific species to climate change.