Climate change integrated assessment methodology for cross-sectoral adaptation and

vulnerability in Europe

Funded under the European CommissionSeventh Framework Programme

Contract Number: 244031

Adaptation and mitigation: cross-sectoral synergies and conflicts

For further information contact Pam Berry (email: Pam.Berry@eci.ox.ac.uk) or visit the project website (www.climsave.eu)

Climate Change Integrated Methodology for Cross-Sectoral Adaptation and Vulnerability in Europe

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• Adaptation - an action which avoids the unwanted impacts of climate change (Convention on Biological Diversity, 2005).

• Mitigation - any action which reduces greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and/or protects or promotes carbon sinks.

Adaptation and mitigation - definitions

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Literature review methodology

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Coastal keyword search

Subject Adaptation Intervention

Mitigation Intervention

Salt marsh Dikes Dyke Carbon storage Estuaries Beach

nourishment Wetland creation

Coastal wetlands

Embankment Carbon sequestration

Coastal grazing marshland

Managed retreat

Carbon capture and storage

Intertidal wetlands

Managed realignment

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Cross-sectoral interactions

Direct impacts that adaptation and mitigation measures in a given sector have on another sector. These may be:•Neutral, e.g. white topping, passive ventilation;•Positive, e.g. Altenheim polder, Rhine - benefited water, agriculture and biodiversity;•Negative, e.g. afforestation decreasing water availability;•Mixed, e.g. green roofs.

Morris et al., 2004

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Interactions between water and other sectors

SectorAdaptation measures Coasts Biodiversity Urban Forest Agriculture

Increased infiltration X X X XIncreased storage X X X X XReduced flow rate X X XReduced flood impact X X X XDemand management

X X X

Mitigation measures Creation of wetlands X X Increased sequestration

X X X X X

Increased carbon storage

X X X X X

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Synergies in adaptation and mitigation measures

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Examples of synergies

• In the same sector, e.g. conservation agriculture and drought resilience.

• In different sectors, e.g. restoration of degraded peatland or flood plains – benefits for flood management, biodiversity and carbon sequestration.

Morris et al. (2004)

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Conflicts in adaptation and mitigation measures

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• In the same sector, e.g. wetland creation can increase GHG emissions.

• Between sectors, e.g. earlier sowing dates can increase irrigation water demand but avoid high summer temperatures.

Examples of conflicts

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Trade-offs in adaptation and mitigation measures

Trade-offs can be between:

•Adaptation and negative impacts, e.g. new crop genes and yield/stress tolerance; irrigation and public water supply/environmental protection.

•Mitigation and negative impacts, e.g. carbon sequestration through afforestation and consequent land use change.

•Adaptation and mitigation, e.g. desalinisation (adaptation) and energy used (mitigation).

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e.g. between managed re-alignment and:– habitats and protected areas;– agriculture;– urban areas.

Example of coastal trade-offs

Wallasea Island (courtesy of RSPB)

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Opportunities for cross-sectoral mainstreaming of adaptation and mitigation

• Habitat restoration/re-creation, e.g. forests, coastal realignment, urban green infrastructure, some agri-environment schemes, water storage, C sequestration, can increase landscape connectivity for biodiversity.

• Manage protected areas where possible to enhance adaptation and mitigation, e.g. water storage, C sequestration.

• Use networks/corridors to provide adaptation for other sectors and mitigation.

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Conclusions

• There is a lack of evidence and explicit recognition of synergies and conflicts.

• CLIMSAVE has identified a number of synergies and conflicts, many of which involve biodiversity and water.

• There are opportunities for mainstreaming cross-sectoral impacts and synergies of adaptation and mitigation measures.

• Biodiversity and water could be exemplars, given their multiple cross-sectoral linkages.

• The challenge is to enhance the turning of evident cross-sectoral opportunities into realities.