Development and Climate Change: A Mainstreaming Approach for Assessing Economic, Social, and Environmental Impacts of Adaptation Measures

Kirsten Halsnæs, Sara Lærke Meltofte Trærup

    Research output: Contribution to journalJournal articleResearchpeer-review

    Abstract

    The paper introduces the so-called climate change mainstreaming approach, where vulnerability and adaptation measures are assessed in the context of general development policy objectives. The approach is based on the application of a limited set of indicators. These indicators are selected as representatives of focal development policy objectives, and a stepwise approach for addressing climate change impacts, development linkages, and the economic, social and environmental dimensions related to vulnerability and adaptation are introduced. Within this context it is illustrated using three case studies how development policy indicators in practice can be used to assess climate change impacts and adaptation measures based on three case studies, namely a road project in flood prone areas of Mozambique, rainwater harvesting in the agricultural sector in Tanzania and malaria protection in Tanzania. The conclusions of the paper confirm that climate risks can be reduced at relatively low costs, but the uncertainty is still remaining about some of the wider development impacts of implementing climate change adaptation measures.
    Original languageEnglish
    JournalEnvironmental Management (New York)
    Volume43
    Issue number5
    Pages (from-to)765-778
    ISSN0364-152X
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - 2009

    Keywords

    • Climate Centre
    • Climate and energy systems

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