Step 4.2 Selecting adaptation options

Key message

Choose a decision-making approach and select your adaptation options.

There are several decision-making approaches and tools that can help with selecting adaptation options for your adaptation plan.

Cost-effective adaptation options: Adaptation options can be categorised as ‘no regrets’ (beneficial regardless of future climate change), ‘low regrets’ (with low costs and potential high benefits), ‘win-win’ (addressing climate risks and contributing to wider objectives), ‘flexible or adaptive management’ (easily adjusted) and ‘multiple benefit’ (aligning with goals like mitigation and sustainability). Decision-makers could find these appealing, enabling short-term action instead of inaction. To account for uncertainty in adaptation decision-making, see How to factor in uncertainty?
Economic tools help you make informed decisions by assessing benefits and costs, often measured in monetary terms, and considering efficiency and effectiveness (see Example 4.1). For more information, see economic tools on Climate-ADAPT. In overviews of economic methods, check out the EEA analysis on the cost of natural hazards, including the benefits of prevention here.

Example 4.1 Cost-benefit analysis in Denmark

The city of Copenhagen carried out a cost-benefit analysis when the city’s cloudburst management plan was developed in 2012. The analysis considered a conventional solution and an alternative using blue-green infrastructure. Both were projected to reduce the costs of future flood damage by the same amount – DKK 16 billion. However, the blue-green solution had significantly lower implementation costs, resulting in a net gain of DKK 3 billion. By using the cost-benefit analysis, the city was able to make an evidence-informed decision on which adaptation option to pursue.

Full case study EEA's briefing on Assessing the costs and benefits of climate change adaptation

Adaptation pathways help you make practical, low-risk investments today while keeping future flexibility in mind amid climate uncertainty. They involve creating a versatile roadmap for different climate scenarios, so you can make informed decisions and allocate resources effectively (see Example 4.2). Policies should be adaptable, taking into account the latest climate science, growth predictions and environmental changes. Timing is crucial and postponing decisions until necessary (e.g. major flood defence investments) ensures optimal use of resources. This approach leaves room for a broader conversation about communities’ resilience and future.

Pursuing adaptation pathways involves a series of potential actions, with periodic reviews prompted by possible 'tipping points' (e.g. climate events). These reviews ensure alignment with objectives and may bring a shift to a different implementation pathway. When combined with thorough monitoring and evaluation, this approach promotes ongoing learning, strengthening resilience and adaptive capacity.

For practical guidance on developing adaptation pathways, see Pathways2Resilience’s Regional Resilience Journey. This framework is designed to help local and regional authorities transition to climate resilience using a transformative adaptation approach.

Example 4.2 Hypothetical example of using adaptation pathways

The local government of Sandcastle Bay is grappling with challenges posed by rising sea levels and increased flood risk to its tourist and fishing community, Sandome. Facing beach erosion and storm-related damage, the council proposes a moratorium on future development, sparking community consultation to explore adaptation options. The preferred pathway emerging from workshops and discussions involves a staged approach, as shown below, in the light of sea-level rise. The financing responsibility falls largely on the council, requiring further analysis of costs and benefits before finalising the adaptation plan.

Stakeholder engagement in choosing adaptation options

As mentioned earlier, engaging stakeholders meaningfully in decision making can be challenging, especially when data drives decisions. Explore various methods for effective stakeholder engagement in the provided resources. When selecting your adaptation measures, it’s important to involve the stakeholders identified in Step 1.3. This includes government agencies, community representatives and experts. Use workshops to engage stakeholders in the assessment process, fostering transparency, ownership and alignment with community needs. More information on participatory methods is available in MIP’s DIY manual on stakeholder and citizen engagement.

Resources

Climate-ADAPT Economic tools
Gives an overview of tools for economic analysis in adaptation decision-making.
EEA briefing on Assessing the costs and benefits of climate change adaptation (2023)
Interesting read highlighting the need to understand the costs of inaction versus the adaptation costs, and highlights factors like avoided losses and co-benefits. The briefing also explores methodologies for estimating these costs and benefits, along with the associated challenges
Climate change and health: a tool to estimate health and adaptation costs
The WHO Regional Office for Europe developed an economic analysis tool to aid European Member States in planning climate change adaptation for public health, offering step-by-step guidance on estimating costs and efficiency of adaptation measures, primarily targeted at climate-change adaptation ministries.
RAMSES' Assessing the costs and benefits of adaptation
This prototype tool helps with estimating the economic costs of climate change's health impacts at the local level in RAMSES cities within the WHO European Region. It aids adaptation planning and policy implementation by providing simplified methodologies and estimates for advocacy as well as early adaptation guidance.

Multi Criteria Analysis (UAST)
A guide from the Urban Adaptation Support Tool on assessing and selecting adaptation options. This webpage gives an overview of how to conduct a multi-criteria analysis to prioritise adaptation options.
OECD's Strategic Investment Pathways for Resilient Water Systems (2022)
Provides a conceptual and analytical approach for selecting and prioritising adaptation pathways in the water sector. It evaluates different investment options while considering climate change, infrastructure needs and stakeholder-defined goals.

MIP4ADAPT citizen engagement manual (2023)
A manual for regional and local authorities on stakeholder and citizen engagement.