Background document on inventory of measures
Inventory of measures
Why this Database?
The purpose of this database is to create a pool of measures:
 that decision makers from European, national, and regional level can draw on when looking
for adaptation options in water management.
 that will be incorporated into the integrated assessment framework of this project and in a
wider sense will contribute to the adaptation knowledge base.
What is meant by adaptation measure?
The definition of an “adapation measure” in the context of this study is as follows: Adaptation
measures are actions reducing vulnerability to climate change and climate variability by preventing
negative effects or by enhancing the resilience to climate change. Such adaptation measures can be
preventive, preparatory, reactive and/or recovery measures. The emphasis of the measures in the
database is on preventive and preparatory measures addressing the three dimensions of
vulnerability: exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. It shall be stressed here that while the
inventory lists measures individually, most impacts are addressed most effectively by a bundle of
complimentary measures that are part of an adaptation strategy.
Developing an adaptation strategy follows four steps as set out below:
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Step 1: Prepare the ground: Gaining political backing and embedding climate change
adaptation in existing plans, policies and programmes.
Step 2: Assess vulnerability of the region. Gaining better understanding of the expected
impacts, risks and adaptive capacity of a region to climate change and identifying priorities
for action.
Step 3: Set the Strategic Direction Identifying a set of principles for the adaptation strategy
that directly address the region’s vulnerabilities.
Step 4: Plan & Implement Concrete Adaptation Measures Devising a detailed plan of action
setting out how, when and by whom specific adaptation measures should be implemented
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Background document on inventory of measures
Prepare the ground
1.
Identify adaptation
measures
Monitor,
Gather
Evaluate information
& Review
4.
2.
Assess
vulnerabilities
Engage
stakeholders
3.
Set strategic directions
Figure 1: Steps to develop an adapation stratgy
Measures in the inventory are further subdivided into nine main categories:
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Technical measures relate to technical infrastructure such as dykes, water supply systems,
water treatment systems, roads, railways
Measures related to "green" infrastructure. Green infrastructure is the interconnected
network of open spaces and natural areas, that naturally accommodates stormwater,
reduces flooding risk and improves water quality.
Measures changing management or practices: This refers in particular to changes in farming
practice or changes in water management.
Risk prevention measures are measures that aim to reduce the risk of a economic damage
due to non technical action. Early warning or risk maps are examples
Economic and financial measures: Any economic incentive that changes the behaviour of
certain people or sectors e.g. water pricing)
Awareness/information measures are aiming to make human society more aware of climate
change and certain adaptation needs.
Land use change and allocation measures: Measures which change how land is used (e.g.
reallocation of buildings, afforestation of agricultural land)
Regulatory measures are measures establishing or changing laws and regulations.
Long-term contingency planning measure are capturing everything with "make a plan" and
"develop a strategy"
Structure of the database
The inventory will be compiled in the form of a database (either Excel or Access) that will be
searchable and linked to additional external information where relevant. All measures are
inventoried through a name and a short description and are tagged with three groups of attributes:
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Background document on inventory of measures
1. Descriptive attributes comprise e.g. the category of measure (technical, economic &
financial, etc.), the climate event that the measure is responding to (droughts, floods, etc.),
or the sector it is designed for (agriculture, energy, etc.). These attributes can be used to
search the database for a specific set of measures (e.g. technical measures to address water
scarcity in the agricultural sector),
2. Assessment attributes are needed for the assessment exercise and include effectiveness,
economic effects, side effects, flexibility, and acceptance, and
3. Addtitional information (reference, comments).
Error! Reference source not found. shows the draft structure of inventory of measures. The
attributes of measures are described in more detail in the Table below. The inventory will be part of
the assessment framework. Moreover, we will seek to design it for further use in the foreseen
Figure 2: Structure of the inventory of measures
clearinghouse.
What it is and what to find?
The database is a matrix in a Microsoft Excel sheet that contains in the first column measures found
in climate strategies and programs that are supposed to support adaptation to changes in quantity
and quality of water in a certain geographical scope. The attributes of each measure are presented in
the top row, for more information see section operational definitions of the different attributes.
Operational definitions of the different attributes
Attributes
Name
Description
Climate events
The extreme
Description or operational definition
Short title of the measure
Explain the aim and actions will be
taken
Type of climate event that the measure
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How to fill the
matrix
Write title
Write aim and
actions in detail
Mark an “X” in the
Background document on inventory of measures
weather events
that influence
water quantity
and quality, e.g.
rising sea levels,
droughts
Objective of the
measure
Statement of
the outcome to
be achieved
through the
measure
implementation
is addressing. Select from: A. not
enough water (measure increases
availability of water and water
imbalances); B. Too much water
(measure reduces overflow of water
from water bodies); C. Impaired water
quality (measure reduces vulnerability
to water quality deterioration e.g
chemical, biological, and
morphological); D. Snow related events
(measure increase coping capacities to
environmental, economic and societal
impacts from changes in snow cover)
Reduce exposure to droughts and
water scarcity if the measure increases
water supply. The exposure is the
degree to which a system (e.g.
company, city, farm, sector) is exposed
to climatic variations of the quantity,
magnitude, frequency and seasonality
of available water.
Reduce sensitivity to droughts and
water scarcity if the measure reduces
the water demand of the sector(s).
Increase adaptive capacity to droughts
and water scarcity if the measure
increases the ability/possibility of the
sector(s) to close the gap between
water demand and supply. It could be
achieved by increasing water supply,
decreasing water demand or some
combination of both.
Exposure to flooding is the degree to
which a system is exposed to climatic
variations of the quantity, magnitude,
frequency and seasonality of high
waters (including sea level rise).
Reduce sensitivity to flooding if the
measure reduces the share of socioecological system, located in the floodprone areas.
Increase adaptive capacity to floods if
the measure increases the ability of a
system (e.g. city, farm, company,
sector, forest) to adjust to sudden high
water levels moderating the potential
damages, taking advantage of
opportunities or coping with the
consequences.
Exposure to changes in water quality is
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correct column(s)
Mark an “X” in the
correct column(s)
Background document on inventory of measures
the degree to which a system is
exposed to climatic variations of the
quantity, magnitude, frequency and
seasonality of water quality.
Reduce sensitivity to changes in water
quality if the measure reduces the
share of socio-ecological system,
located in areas sensitive to water
quality variation due intensive presence
of sources of pollution and high
variances in the flow level.
Increase adaptive capacity to changes
in water quality if the measure...
Character of
measure
Sector affected
Costs (type)
To exploit benefits if the measure
increases benefits through exploring
new opportunities.
Preventing- if the measure reduces the
risk and sensitivity of people, property
or nature to climate change.
Preparatory- if the measure builds or
enhances awareness about effects of
climate change in the region (Includes
carrying out studies, awareness raising
and communication exchange
activities).
Reactive- if the measure includes the
development of standards and
processes to react to extreme climate
events.
Recovery- if the measure creates
mechanisms such as establishing a
funding instrument to support
reconstruction or an insurance systems.
Economic sub-division of society that
the measure is aimed at protecting or
adapting. Can be: Water management,
Agriculture, Energy, Industry, Forestry,
Shipping, Spatial Planning,
Domestic/Tourism
Investments (before the measure) Costs related to set up measure.
Operational (during and maintaining
measure) - Costs to run the measure
Social (after) - costs of the total burden
imposed by the adaptation measures,
or the value lost to society including the
opportunity costs of resources
deployed for policy/measure
implementation.
Transaction costs such as pre-contract
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Mark an “X” in the
correct column(s)
Mark an “X” in the
correct column(s)
In the respective
cell, explain in
detail the reason(s)
for selecting this
type of cost.
Background document on inventory of measures
Side-effects of
the measure
related to non
adaptation
issues (e.g.
increase of
biodiversity
(Type)
Time to
implement
Short term (5-25
years)
Mid- to Longterm (25+ years)
Efficiency
flexibility in
Easy
implementation
Difficult
Implementation Geographic level
(national,
regional or river
basin and
municipal or
company level)
Reference to
public
participation
Policy
implementability
(or popularity)
Potential risks
negotiation costs, and post-contract
monitoring and enforcement costs (the
latter if not included in the operational
costs);
Win-win – if the measure entails sidebenefits for other social, environmental
or economic objectives
No regrets – if the measure is be
beneficial even if there is no need for
adaptation, because it alleviates an
existing problem
Negative side effcts – if the measure
negatively affects other sectors or
agents For example the structural
changes to river course may have as an
unintended consequence a higher
water stages during the flood event and
thus higher probability of floods.
Time until the measure becomes
operational
Time until the measure becomes
operational
ratio between the avoided
costs/impacts and the costs of a
measures.
Perception of assessor and
stakeholders about how feasible is to
update/change measure in the
preparatory and operational phases of
the project. If this update is very
feasible to make that the degree of
adaptability is high – Easy, if not it is
low – difficult.
The territorial level that the measure is
being implemented.
If there is reference to public
participation in the original text
(program of measures or climate
strategy)
level of disagreement/agreement about
the overall ability of the measures to
deliver keeping in mind the various
side-effects and/or risk augmentation
Stakeholder perception of risks that
may affect implementation of the
measure
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In the respective
cell, explain in
detail the reasons
for the selection of
this type of sideeffect
Mark an “X” in the
correct column
Mark an “X” in the
correct column
Mark an “X” in the
correct column
Mark with a “yes”
or a ”no”
Describe major
issues
Describe major risks