This section of the Resource Centre contains a selection of references on alternative overall methodological frameworks for assessing climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability. 

UNDP Adaptation Policy Framework (APF)  

English Version

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  • Foreword
  • Executive summary
  • User's guidebook
  • Technical paper No.1 - Scoping and designing an adaptation project
  • Technical paper No.2 - Engaging stakeholders in the adaptation process
  • Technical paper No.3 - Assessing vulnerability for climate adpatation
  • Technical paper No.4 - Assessing current climate risks
  • Technical paper No.5 - Assessing future climate risks
  • Technical paper No.6 - Assessing current and changing socio-economic conditions
  • Technical paper No.7 - Assessing and enhancing adpative capacity
  • Technical paper No.8 - Formulating an adaptation strategy
  • Technical paper No.9 - Continuing the adaptation process
  • Case studies  

Spanish Version

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French Version

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UNEP Handbook on Methods for Climate Change Impact Assessments and Adaptation Strategies (UNEP Handbook)

IPCC Guidelines

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  • Summary for Policy Makers 
  • Background and objectives 
  • Approaches to the assessment of impacts and adaptations 
  • The 7-step approach
  • Step 1 - Definition of the problem 
  • Step 2 - Selection of the method
  • Step 3 - Testing the method
  • Step 4 - Selecting the scenarios 
  • Step 5 - Assessment of impacts 
  • Steps 6 and 7 - Assessment of autonomous adjustments and evaluation of adaptation strategies
  • Organisation of research and communication of results
  • References 

1. Climate Adaptation: Risk, Uncertainty and Decision-making (UKCIP risk management framework)
2. Methods and tools (chapter of Working Group II contribution to the IPCC Third Assessment Report)
3. Vulnerability, risk and adaptation: a conceptual framework (the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research)
4. UNFCCC Compendium on methods and tools to evaluate impacts of, vulnerability and adaptation to, climate change 
5. New indicators of vulnerability and adaptive capacity (the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change research)
6. Adaptation benefits and costs: are they important in the global policy picture and how can we estimate them? [Callaway, 2004]
7. Linkages between vulnerability, resilience, and adaptive capacity [Gallopin, 2006]
8. Adaptation, adaptive capacity and vulnerability [Smit and Wandel, 2006]
9. Data and processes linking vulnerability assessment to adaptation decision-making on climate chagne in Norway [ Næss et al., 2006]
10. Sustainable livelihood approach for assessing community resilience to climate change: case studies from Sudan [B. Osman et al., 2005]
11. Methods for assessing agricultural producers' vulnerability to climate variability and change based on the notion of sustainability [Wehbe et al., 2005]
12. An Integrated Assessment of Climate Change Impacts, Adaptations and Vulnerability in Watershed Areas and Communities in Southeast Asia [Lasco, Rodel D. and Boer, Rizaldi, 2006]
13. Environmental Strategies to Increase Human Resilience to Climate Change: Lessons for Eastern and Northern Africa [B. Elasha, 2006]
14. Estimating and Comparing Costs and Benefits of Adaptation Projects: Case Studies in South Africa and The Gambia [Nkomo, Jabavu C. and Gomez, Bernard, 2006]
15. An integrated modelling approach to conduct multi-factorial analyses on the impacts of climate change on whole-farm systems [M. Rivington, 2007]