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Guidelines for Climate Impact and Vulnerability Assessments - Recommendations of the Interministerial Working Group on Adaptation to Climate Change of the German Federal Government

Guidelines for climate and vulnerability assessments

Creator: Umwelt Bundesamt
Type of methodology: Methodological recommendations
Approach type: CVRA (Climate Vulnerability and Risk Assessment)
Short description: Process-based methodology and recommendations for CIVA, based on the development of impact chains and the evaluation of climate impact, adaptive capacity and vulnerability.
Hazards covered: Others
Audiences: Architects and engineers
Assessment level: Regional/national level, also including buildings
Evaluation system:

Climate impact x Adaptive capacity = Vulnerability

Strengths:
  • Builds on IPCC definitions of a CVRA
  • Provides a description of the steps to implementing a CVRA
Limits:

Not specific to buildings but contains an example of impact chain for buildings

Recommendations for climate impact & vulnerability assessments:

  • Working step 1: Plan and prepare the assessment
    • 1.1 Involving experts from responsible institution
    • 1.2 Specifying the methodological framework and key terms
    • 1.3 Specifying scenarios for climate stimuli, spatial exposure and sensitivity
  • Working step 2: Step-by-step execution of the climate impact and vulnerability assessment
    • 2.1. Developing impact chains (climate stimuli + direct climate impacts + climate impacts)
    • 2.2 Operationalising selected sectoral climate impacts
    • 2.3 Evaluating and aggregating climate impacts
    • 2.4 Evaluating adaptive capacity
    • 2.5 Evaluating vulnerability
  • Working step 3: Communicating and using results