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IGES HOME > Climate Change Project > Activities Expert Consultation on Adaptation Metrics The Institute for Global Environmental Strategies (IGES) and the World Bank jointly organized an international expert consultation on adaptation metrics (quantitative or semi-quantitative measures or indicators for monitoring the effectiveness of adaptation actions) at the Toshi Center Hotel, Tokyo on 17 and 18 April 2008. Experts from 16 countries (Australia, Bangladesh, Brazil, Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, Malaysia, Nepal, the Netherlands, the Philippines, Thailand, the United Kingdom, the United States of America, and Zimbabwe) and observers from various organizations in Japan participated. The expert consultation was a key component of the IGES Adaptation Metrics project funded by the World Bank. The goal of the project is to improve adaptation planning in the most vulnerable sectors of developing countries. The main objectives of the meeting were to: (a) discuss the validity and effectiveness of adaptation metrics in diverse contexts, scales and circumstances; (b) examine methodological and other technical issues in developing metrics; (c) assess the progress and relevance of metrics in development planning of climate-sensitive sectors such as agriculture and water; and (d) identify research needs for policy application and field testing of the metrics. Date 17-18 April 2008 Venue Toshi Center Hotel, Tokyo, Japan Organiser IGES, World Bank Agenda Agenda Key Messages Key Messages Summary Summary of the Consultation 83KB Key Messages 1. There is an immediate need for adaptation metrics from diverse stakeholders (governments, donors, and implementation agencies). Metrics are useful to identify the most promising adaptation options; prioritize sectors, regions and locations for adaptation funding; and monitor progress in responding to the adverse impacts of climate change. 2. Adaptation metrics should be policy-relevant, scalable, transferable, context-specific, and comparable. Metrics should capture the multi-dimensional nature of climate change impacts and the diversity in perceptions of stakeholders on their utility in decision making. 3. Many methodological challenges remain in the development of metrics. They include whether approaches should be deductive or inductive, locally-specific or spatially-scalable, and based on past experiences or linked to future projections. Integration of inductive and deductive approaches is desirable, but it may be difficult. Further research is needed on this possible integration. 4. Qualitative metrics are as important as quantitative measures, especially in data-poor regions and contexts. Metrics can be based on reliable numbers, numbers with uncertainties and no numbers, as long as they can capture the essence of adaptation in both temporal and spatial scales. Multi-criteria methods and participatory approaches should be effectively employed in the development of metrics. 5. Adaptation metrics in the agriculture sector will help farming communities and policy makers alike grasp the value of proactive adaptation. However, developing a comprehensive set of metrics is challenging due to a wide variety of adaptations as well as the dynamic nature of various factors in the sector. 6. Adaptive capacity of people and policies must be considered in scoping agricultural adaptation metrics at national and local levels. However, retaining sectoral differences is challenging due to the difficulties of distinguishing between sectors at the local level. 7. Identification and integration of adaptation metrics into water risk management is urgent. Metrics must account for multiple values and interests of stakeholders, frequent policy shifts and uncoordinated actions, and potentially hidden stakeholder agendas. 8. Development of adaptation metrics in the water sector should consider physical and value flows of water, multiple system uses, and non-linear responses. National water accounting should be improved to strengthen the basis for adaptation metrics. 9. Metrics should be integrated into a planning context at all levels. They should be piloted as soon as possible on existing adaptation projects and integrated into the current monitoring and evaluation processes. 10. Metrics must not be developed hastily, and they should evolve through an adaptive learning process. Overemphasis on metrics should be avoided however. Strategic thinking, innovation and organizational learning should therefore form the basis for realizing the full potential of adaptation metrics. Agenda Day 1 (April 17) Opening Session 09:30 - 09:40 Welcome Remarks - Prof. Hironori Hamanaka, IGES 09:40 - 09:50 Opening Remarks - Dr. Ian Noble, World Bank 09:50 - 10:10 Self introductions by Participants Session 1 Methodological Issues What is the current status of work on adaptation metrics? Which methodologies are appropriate for identifying and testing various metrics? What are the key barriers and solutions to developing adaptation metrics? 10:10 - 10:35 Objectives and scope of the meeting - Dr. Ancha Srinivasan, IGES528KB 10:35 - 11:00 Methodological frameworks for adaptation metrics: an overview   - Dr. Toshihiro Uchida, Takasaki City University of Economics, Japan38KB 11:00 - 11:15 Coffee/Tea Break 11:15 - 11:40 International Indicators for Disaster Risk: Lessons Learnt and Ways Forward for Adaptation Metrics Dr. Marc Pelling, King’s College London, UK 147KB 11:40 - 12:05 Measuring Adaptation: Comparing possible outcomes or describing social learning? Dr. Jochen Hinkel, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany227KB 12:05 - 12:30 Adaptation to climate change and variability metrics: the Index of Usefulness of Practices for Adaptation (IUPA)   Dr. Claudio Szlafsztein, University Federal of Pará, Brazil 462KB 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch 13:30 - 14:30 General discussion Moderator: Dr. Roger Jones, CSIRO, Australia 14:30 - 15:00 Questionnaire on adaptation metrics   Dr. Sangam Shrestha, IGES33KB Session 2 Adaptation metrics in the agricultural sector What is current status in measuring the effectiveness of agricultural adaptations? What are the most appropriate metrics in the agricultural/livestock sector? What are the critical challenges in developing metrics in the agricultural sector? 15:00 - 15:25 Adaptation Metrics in Agriculture: An Overview Dr. Ancha Srinivasan, IGES362KB 15:25 - 15:50 Understanding and Assessing the Adaptive Capacity of Farmers and Public Policies: Insights from the Canadian Prairies   - Ms. Jo-Ellen Parry, IISD, Canada1MB 15:50 - 16:05 Coffee/Tea Break 16:05 - 16:30 Selection and Prioritization of Adaptation Indicators in the Context of Rural Subsistence Agriculture Dr. Ram Chandra Khanal, IUCN, Nepal102KB 16:30 - 16:55 Adaptation Metrics in Agriculture Sector ? Experiences from India Dr. Sanjay Tomar, TERI, India218KB 16:55 - 18:00 General Discussion Moderator: Dr. Monirul Mirza, University of Toronto, Canada Day 2 (April 18) 9:00 - 9:15 Summary of Day 1 Dr. Prabhakar Sivapuram, IGES74KB Session 3 Adaptation metrics in the water sector What is the status in measuring the effectiveness of adaptations in water sector? What are the most appropriate metrics in the water sector? What are the critical challenges in developing metrics in the water sector? 09:15 - 09:40 From Risk Assessment to Risk Management - The Challenges of Developing Adaptation Metrics in the Water Sector   - Dr. Roger Jones, CSIRO, Australia631KB 09:40 - 10:05 Is Bangladesh Adapting to Extreme Water Hazards?   - Dr. Monirul Mirza, University of Toronto, Canada1MB 10:05 - 10:30 Effectiveness of Local Adaptation Practices to Climate Variability and Extremes in the Philippines   - Dr. Juan M. Pulhin, University of the Philippines, Philippines 1.3MB 10:30 - 10:45 Coffee/Tea Break 10:45 - 11:10 Quantitative Approach in Evaluating Risk, Social Vulnerability and Adaptation Measures to Climate Change Impact   - Dr. Suppakorn Chinvanno, START Regional Centre, Thailand239KB 11:10 - 11:35 Adaptation in the Columbia River Basin: Who's on First?   - Dr. Hugh Pitcher, Joint Global Change Research Institute, USA210KB 11:35 - 12:30 General Discussion Moderator: Dr. Jochen Hinkel, Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research, Germany 12:30 - 13:30 Lunch Session 4 Policy Applications and Field Testing Which criteria are appropriate in testing the effectiveness of metrics? What are the challenges and potential solutions to apply adaptation metrics in policy making? 13:30 - 13:55 Policy Applications of Adaptation Metrics: An Overview Dr. Ian Noble, World Bank 68KB 13:55 - 14:20 Adaptation Targets Mr. Ian Tellam, ETC Foundation, The Netherlands153KB 14:20 - 14:45 Using Multi-criteria Method for Adaptation Assessment in Ningxia, China   - Dr. Ju Hui, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, China463KB 14:45 - 15:10 Developing Effective Adaptation Metrics: Practical and Policy Perspectives   - Dr. Muyeye Chambwera, IIED, UK182KB 15:10 - 15:30 Coffee Break 15:30 - 16:30 General discussion Moderator: Dr. Hugh Pitcher, Joint Global Change Research Institute, USA Session 5 Follow-up 16:30 - 17:15 Moderators: Dr. Ancha Srinivasan, IGES and Dr. Ian Noble, World Bank 17:15 - 17:30 Closing remarks Prof. Hironori Hamanaka, IGES Contact IGES 2108-11 Kamiyamaguchi, Hayama, Kanagawa 240-0115 JAPAN TEL: +81-46-855-3710 FAX: +81-46-855-3809 Contact us   | HOME | About this site | Copyright | Privacy policy | Sitemap | Contact |