Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments

• 1 U.S. Country Studies Program.- 1.1 Technical Assistance.- 2 Overview of the Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Process.- 2.1 Elements of Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments.- 2.2 Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment Process.- 3 Defining the Scope of an Assessment.- 3.1 Identify Assessment Goals.- 3.2 Define Sectors to Be Studied.- 3.3 Select the Study Region.- 3.4 Select the Time Frame.- 3.5 Determine Data Needs.- 3.6 Develop the Context for Assessment.- 3.7 Develop a Schedule.- 3.8 References for Section 3.- 4 Defining and Applying Scenarios and Using GCM Data for Vulnerability Assessments.- 4.1 Time Frame.- 4.2 Baseline Scenarios.- 4.3 Climate Change Scenarios.- 4.4 GCM Model and Observed Climate Data.- 5 Conducting Biophysical Impact and Technical Adaptation Assessments.- 5.1 Crop Impact and Adaptation Assessments.- 5.2 Grassland/Livestock Impact and Adaptation Assessments.- 5.3 Forest Impact and Adaptation Assessments.- 5.4 Water Resource Impact and Adaptation Assessments.- 5.5 Coastal Impact and Adaptation Assessment.- 5.6 Soil Erosion Impact and Adaptation Assessments.- 5.7 Human Health Vulnerability Assessment.- 5.8 Fisheries Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessment.- 5.9 Wildlife and Biodiversity Impact and Adaptation Assessment.- 6 Integration of Impact Assessment Results.- 6.1 Integration Approaches.- 6.2 Dealing with Uncertainty.- 7 Assessment of Adaptation Policy Options.- 7.1 Introduction.- 7.2 Goals of the Adaptation Policy Assessments.- 7.3 Necessary Elements of Adaptation Policy Assessments.- 7.4 Primary Approach.- 7.5 References for Section 7.- 8 Documentation and Presentation of Results.- APPENDICES.- APPENDIX A: Baseline Scenarios.- APPENDIX B: Climate Change Scenarios for Vulnerability Assessments.- APPENDIX C: General Circulation Models and Data.- APPENDIX D: Crop Impacts.- APPENDIX E: Grassland/Livestock Impacts.- APPENDIX F: Forest Impacts.- APPENDIX G: Water Resource Impacts.- APPENDIX H: Coastal Resource Impacts and Methods of Adaptation Assessment.- APPENDIX I: Assessment of Adaptation Options.- APPENDIX J: Description of Assessment Methods for Assessing Impacts on Fisheries.

'The book should not be missed by analysts, planners and research workers engaged in studies of vulnerability and adaptation to climate change. However, because of its excellent, condensed, and well-illustrated introduction to each of the different potential impacts of climatic change, it is also of substantial value for trainers and training programmes dealing with these issues.' International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 9:4 (1998)