Page 12 - Module_9_en

Module
Course Materials

1
Introduction and learning objectives

9-12 December, 2013 ranging ways as technological, economic, social and ecological changes take place across
Climate change impacts will affect social and ecological systems in complex and broad-

regions, groups and sectors. Many of these impacts, such as impacts on ecological systems,
have cascading effects on social, economic and health outcomes. In order to respond to
climate change, more vigorous actions are required to mitigate emissions of greenhouse

gases (GHGs) and to adapt to unavoidable consequences that are increasing vulnerability
around the world.

This module has been specifically developed to include adaptation issues into the
Integrated Environment Assessment (IEA) process. The IEA process is part of a mandate

requiring that countries regularly monitor their State of the Environment. Traditionally,
these have been developed in national, sub-regional and Global Environment Outlooks
(please refer to Module 1 of the IEA training manual for more background). This module
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provides training on how to include vulnerability, climate change and adaptation in the
IEA process. When focusing on impacts of climate change and developing adaptation
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responses, we can either be broad or focus on target-specific themes such as agriculture,

water resource management and coastal development.

The DPSIR framework underlines the IEA process. It is explained in detail in Module 5
and refers to Drivers (D), Pressures (P), State and trends (S), Impacts (I) and Responses
(R). For this module, a “current” DPSIR will be developed in which the responses (R) will
focus only on capacities to cope or to adapt (vulnerability assessment). A future DPSI will

be developed (impact assessment) in which the R will focus only on needed capacities.

1. The IEA Training Manual (UNEP and IISD, 2007) is a very important support resource for this module. It contains
eight modules: (1) The GEO Approach to Integrated Environmental Assessment; (2) National IEA Process Design and
Organization; (3) Developing an Impact Strategy for your IEA; (4) Monitoring, Data and Indicators; (5) Integrated Analysis
of Environmental Trends and Policies; (6) Scenario Development and Analysis; (7) Creating Communication Outputs from
the Assessment; (8) Monitoring, Evaluation and Increased Impact of the IEA Process. Although several modules are not
discussed in detail (Modules 2-6; Module 8), all are relevant to this training module.
2. Specific methods of integration are listed in the Appendix.

10 Volume Two - Themes
Vulnerability and Impact assessments for Adaption to Climate Change (VIA Module)