Climate change integrated
assessment methodology for
cross-sectoral adaptation and
vulnerability in Europe
Adaptation and mitigation:
cross-sectoral synergies and conflicts
For further information contact Pam Berry (email: Pam.Berry@eci.ox.ac.uk)
or visit the project website (www.climsave.eu)
Funded under the European Commission
Seventh Framework Programme
Contract Number: 244031
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Adaptation and mitigation - definitions
• Adaptation - an action which avoids the unwanted impacts
of climate change (Convention on Biological Diversity,
2005).
• Mitigation - any action which reduces greenhouse gas
(GHG) emissions, and/or protects or promotes carbon
sinks.
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Literature review methodology
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Coastal keyword search
Subject
Salt marsh
Estuaries
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
Coastal
wetlands
Coastal
grazing
marshland
Intertidal
wetlands
Adaptation
Intervention
Dikes Dyke
Beach
nourishment
Embankment
Managed
retreat
Managed
realignment
Mitigation
Intervention
Carbon storage
Wetland
creation
Carbon
sequestration
Carbon capture
and storage
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Cross-sectoral interactions
Direct impacts that adaptation and mitigation measures in a
given sector have on another sector. These may be:
• Neutral, e.g. white topping, passive ventilation;
• Positive, e.g. Altenheim polder, Rhine - benefited water,
agriculture and biodiversity;
• Negative, e.g. afforestation decreasing water availability;
• Mixed, e.g. green roofs.
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
Morris et al., 2004
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Interactions between water and other sectors
Sector
Adaptation measures Coasts Biodiversity Urban
Increased infiltration
Increased storage
X
Reduced flow rate
Reduced flood impact
X
Forest
Agriculture
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
Demand
management
Mitigation measures
X
X
X
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
Creation of wetlands
X
X
Increased
sequestration
X
X
X
X
X
Increased carbon
storage
X
X
X
X
X
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Synergies in adaptation and mitigation measures
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Examples of synergies
• In the same sector, e.g. conservation agriculture and
drought resilience.
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
• In different sectors, e.g. restoration of degraded peatland
or flood plains – benefits for flood management,
biodiversity and carbon sequestration.
Morris et al. (2004)
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Conflicts in adaptation and mitigation measures
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Examples of conflicts
• In the same sector, e.g. wetland creation
can increase GHG emissions.
• Between sectors, e.g. earlier sowing dates
can increase irrigation water demand but
avoid high summer temperatures.
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Trade-offs in adaptation and mitigation measures
Trade-offs can be between:
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
•
Adaptation and negative impacts, e.g. new crop genes
and yield/stress tolerance; irrigation and public water
supply/environmental protection.
•
Mitigation and negative impacts, e.g. carbon
sequestration through afforestation and consequent land
use change.
•
Adaptation and mitigation, e.g. desalinisation (adaptation)
and energy used (mitigation).
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Example of coastal trade-offs
e.g. between managed re-alignment and:
– habitats and protected areas;
– agriculture;
– urban areas.
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
Wallasea Island (courtesy of RSPB)
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Opportunities for cross-sectoral
mainstreaming of adaptation and mitigation
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
•
Habitat restoration/re-creation, e.g. forests, coastal
realignment, urban green infrastructure, some agrienvironment schemes, water storage, C sequestration, can
increase landscape connectivity for biodiversity.
•
Manage protected areas where possible to enhance
adaptation and mitigation, e.g. water storage, C
sequestration.
•
Use networks/corridors to provide adaptation for other
sectors and mitigation.
Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe
Conclusions
• There is a lack of evidence and explicit recognition of
synergies and conflicts.
• CLIMSAVE has identified a number of synergies and
conflicts, many of which involve biodiversity and water.
• There are opportunities for mainstreaming cross-sectoral
impacts and synergies of adaptation and mitigation
measures.
www.CLIMSAVE.eu
• Biodiversity and water could be exemplars, given their
multiple cross-sectoral linkages.
• The challenge is to enhance the turning of evident crosssectoral opportunities into realities.