Screening for climate change adaptation: A process to assess and manage the potential impact of climate change on development projects and programmes in China

Abstract

This report describes the development of a screening framework to assist with assessment of climate change impacts and integration of adaptation into development projects. It comprises a systematic step-by-step process for assessing climate change impacts and adaptation responses. The framework has 3 phases: (1) Rapid qualitative analysis of the development project under consideration to identify potential climate change impacts and climate-sensitive components. (2) Semi-quantitative analysis of impacts and quantitative analysis of adaptation options to determine their costs and benefits. (3) Adaptation options assessment to inform decision making. In the report, the screening framework proposed is applied to a set of four case studies of water sector projects in China.

The screening framework provides the iterative base for a cycle of learning involving testing, discussion, refinement and re-testing. Importantly, it serves as a means to promote debate over how development investments in China can integrate the management of climate change impacts in the future.

This resource was produced by TI-UP – a DFID-funded resource centre for technology, infrastructure and urban planning, managed by IMC Worldwide Ltd.

Citation

Jun, X.; Holman, I.; Tanner, T. Screening for climate change adaptation: A process to assess and manage the potential impact of climate change on development projects and programmes in China. Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, Brighton, UK (2007) 19 pp.

Published 1 January 2007