Table of contents
- Acknowledgements
- Executive summary
- Objectives, intended users and context of this report
- Outline of this report
- Methodological approach
- Lessons learned from collaborating with member countries through the self-assessment survey
- 1. Rationale for public intervention on adaptation
- 2.1. Key Topic 1: Public and policy awareness of the need for adaptation
- 2.1.1. Awareness of the need for adaptation: what does this include?
- 2.1.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.1.3. Examples from countries
- 2.1.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.2. Key Topic 2: Knowledge generation and use
- 2.2.1. Knowledge generation and use: what does this include?
- 2.2.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.2.3. Examples from countries
- 2.2.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.3. Key Topic 3: Planning adaptation
- 2.3.1. Planning adaptation: what does this include?
- 2.3.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.3.3. Examples from countries
- 2.3.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.4. Key Topic 4: Coordination of adaptation
- 2.4.1. Coordination of adaptation: what does this include?
- 2.4.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.4.3. Examples from countries
- 2.4.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.5. Key Topic 5: Stakeholder involvement
- 2.5.1. Stakeholder involvement: what does this include?
- 2.5.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.5.3. Examples from countries
- 2.5.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.6. Key Topic 6: Implementation of adaptation
- 2.6.1. Implementation of adaptation: what does this include?
- 2.6.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.6.3. Examples from countries
- 2.6.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.7. Key Topic 7: Transnational cooperation
- 2.7.1. Transnational cooperation: what does this include?
- 2.7.2. Findings from self-assessment survey
- 2.7.3. Examples from countries
- 2.7.4. Discussion of findings
- 2.8. Key Topic 8: Monitoring, reporting and evaluation
- 2.8.1. Monitoring, reporting and evaluation (MRE): what does this include?
- 2.8.2. Findings from the self-assessment survey
- 2.8.3. Examples from countries
- 2.8.4. Discussion of findings
- 3. The evolving agenda for national adaptation in Europe
- 4. Glossary
- 5. Acronyms
- 6. References
2.6.1. Implementation of adaptation: what does this include?
In the context of this report, “implementing adaptation” comprises both initiatives that aim to enhance the ability of a (human or natural) system to adapt to climate change (IPCC, 2007) and deliver concrete adaptation actions that reduce climate change-related vulnerabilities or exploit beneficial climate change-induced opportunities. Initiatives to build adaptive capacity are essential for implementing adaptation actions, thus both responses are closely interlinked.
Nevertheless, high adaptive capacity does not necessarily translate into adaptation actions that reduce vulnerability (IPCC, 2007). For example, governments may provide information material to residents on how to deal with heat stress, an activity to build adaptive capacity. This requires dedicated initiatives for residents to act upon this information they received (e.g. do not implement inexpensive adaptation responses such as airing living spaces and drinking water). Unless these initiatives are put in place, a country might still be faced with a high level of morbidity or even mortality in case of extensive heat waves and thus, high vulnerabilities to climate change.
Definition of key terms
Implementation in the context of the policy cycle framework is defined as ’to put a public policy into effect’. Once policy makers decide on, formulate and adopt a policy, then it is implemented, i.e. activities identified in the policy document are translated into concrete actions. Implementing adaptation is a dynamic iterative learning process, and monitoring and evaluation help to adjust policy responses and actions to accommodate, for examples, the availability of new information such as changes in climate and socioeconomic conditions (IPCC, 2014). Adaptation action that is taken by independent of government policies are considered to be ’autonomous’ and not captured by the self-assessment survey.
For further definitions see the Glossary in Chapter 4.