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Development of Indicators
Austria

Purpose: An M&E scheme is currently being developed by the Ministry of Environment to review the implementation of the national adaptation strategy (NAS) and the National Action Plan (NAP). The scheme will also generate further knowledge on trends of climate change effects and learn which adaptation inventions are working. The NAS and NAP will be further developed based on the progress report and new scientific knowledge.

Approach: The M&E scheme links to the 132 adaptation actions (across 14 sectors) identified in the NAP. The scheme aims to provide sufficient information to monitor implementation activities, while keeping it manageable in terms of effort. The scheme combines two different approaches.

i) Self-assessment: a stakeholder survey on the adaptation actions will be carried out.

ii) Data related criteria-catalogue: an “indicator-based approach” with collection of qualitative and quantitative data.

The criteria catalogue started with an in-depth literature review and the identification of interfaces with existing (adaptation) monitoring systems (Austrian and EU). Preliminary suggestions for a set of criteria (for each sector) were identified and discussed with experts and within a stakeholder workshop. The Austrian framework is designed as a “learning system” to be flexible, iterative and open for new developments.

Challenges addressed:

• Stakeholders are actively involved in the process (workshops to enable two-way discussion) and will be involved in the future through a self-assessment survey. 
• Existing (adaptation) monitoring systems were used
• The criteria selected to measure progress are both quantitative and qualitative
• The framework encourages ‘learning’ and is flexible.