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Appendix

A
A Setting IEA in the context of existing UNFCCC processes

In the climate change negotiation process, the need to address adaptation to climate
change in Least Developed Countries (LDCs; UNFCCC Art.4.9) is as fundamental as
addressing mitigation efforts by industrialized countries. However, for both developing Abu Dhabi, UAE
and developed countries, it is also crucial to focus on adaptation to climate change and
other vulnerabilities so that countries are prepared for the impacts of climate change

that we are already committed to. Preparing and implementing national adaptation
programs of action (NAPAs) is recognized as the first step towards the creation of
enabling environments for mainstreaming adaptation policies and strategies in LDC
development planning.

NAPAs communicate urgent and immediate adaptation needs based on a comprehensive

eight-step methodology ranging from the set up of a multidisciplinary team to ranking
and prioritizing the country adaptation options that lead to the design of project profiles.
These profiles will be developed into full projects and implemented.

The elaboration of NAPAs is therefore centred on:
? A participatory approach taking into account the relevant stakeholders (in particular
concerned communities);

? A multidisciplinary approach linking economical, social and environmental factors;
and

? The inclusion of already existing development plans and international environment
agreements.

It is evident that the NAPA process is based on an integrated evaluation of adaptation

needs.

In this context, despite similarities, the integrated environmental assessment (IEA) is
neither a new NAPA process nor a competing methodology. The IEA could be envisaged
and utilized as a toolbox to assess the vulnerability of countries, prioritize adaptation

IEA Training Manual Workshop for the National Reporting Toolkit (NRT) 71