Design of guidelines for the elaboration of Regional Climate Change Adaptations Strategies

This Policy Guidance is intended to assist regional authorities and other functional authorities in the regions of the European Union in formulating Regional Adaptation Strategies (RAS). The primary aim of this document is:

• to provide a step-by-step process that will lead to a strategy for reducing regions’ vulnerability to climate variability and change;
• identifying and prioritising adaptation responses; 
• where possible, integrating climate adaptation within a wider range of policies, plans and programmes.

The Guidance has been conceived as an entry point for absolute beginners, as well as a reference book for experienced practitioners. It draws on the experience of regional adaptation stakeholders on the ground. This has been achieved through the development of an inventory of regional adaptation strategies already developed in the EU Member States, a review of existing guidelines for the formulation of adaptation strategies within and outside the EU, a stakeholder workshop bringing together regional authorities and a review of information, datasets, tools, approaches and methodologies employed to develop adaptation responses.