Twenty-eighth Report Adapting Institutions to Climate Change Cm ...

Chapter 4
d) Some adaptation responses could disadvantage some individuals or groups (e.g. coastal
realignment could lead to individuals or communities having to move). How should the
‘fairness’ of different adaptation responses be considered?
European, national and regional approaches
Q17) What is the appropriate level (e.g. European, UK, regional, local) at which decisions should be
made for climate change adaptation?
Q18) The regions of the UK will experience different levels of climate change impacts, and will
correspondingly need to adapt in different ways. What variations in institutional capacity do we
find in the different regions? What do these differences imply?
Q19) Which existing EU mechanisms (e.g. the Common Agriculture Policy or the Water Framework
Directive) could play a role in delivering adaptation to climate change in the UK? What are the
aspects of such mechanisms that enable or hinder adaptation?
Q20) As other countries in Europe experience climate change, they also will experience changes in
the natural environment. What indirect impacts might this have on the natural environment of
the UK?
And finally:
Q21) Are there any other issues which should be included within the RCEP’s study?
DEFINITIONS
When discussing adaptation to climate change, there are a range of terms used with varying definitions
from different sources. Some of these have been collected here to provide a ready point of reference;
however, this list is not exhaustive. If there are other terms that could or should be used, please bring
these to the attention of the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution.
IPCC Definitions – taken from the Glossary to the Fourth Assessment Report of IPCC Working Group II, 2007
(unless otherwise stated)
Adaptation is the adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic
stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities. Various types of
adaptation can be distinguished, including anticipatory, autonomous and planned adaptation:
Anticipatory adaptation – Adaptation that takes place before impacts of climate change are observed.
Also referred to as proactive adaptation.
Autonomous adaptation – Adaptation that does not constitute a conscious response to climatic stimuli
but is triggered by ecological changes in natural systems and by market or welfare changes in human
systems. Also referred to as spontaneous adaptation. (c.f. alternative definition below.)
Planned adaptation – Adaptation that is the result of a deliberate policy decision, based on an awareness
that conditions have changed or are about to change and that action is required to return to, maintain,
or achieve a desired state.
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