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encouraged to consider from the outset whether
the AAP would fit within existing policy documents,
be produced as a stand-alone document, or take the
form of ‘guidance’. The Guidance document
emphasises that the format of the AAP is flexible.
Additionally, the Guidance encourages the partners
to decide who is responsible for the AAP, how it fits
into the organisation, and what monitoring and
review mechanisms are required.
The Guidance document shows how the process
of developing an AAP is as important as the end
product for the GRaBS partners involved. To this
end, the ‘AAP cycle’ (see Box 1) outlines the
processes involved and promotes an iterative
approach to climate change adaptation, which helps
partners to gradually advance their capacity as the
cycle is periodically repeated. This cycle again
supports partner flexibility by allowing local and
regional governments to respond to changing
conditions such as political change, new technology,
the evolution of climate science, and, of course,
more extreme weather conditions.
Other GRaBS outputs are also instrumental in the
development of an AAP, and the AAP Guidance
explains how the AAP should evolve with the
progression of these outputs. The GRaBS risk and
vulnerability Assessment Tool enables the partners
to make better-informed decisions on the context
for climate change adaptation, and aids the capacitybuilding
and strategic planning that are central to
AAP development. The GRaBS Mentoring
Programme followed the stages of the AAP cycle
and assisted in the process of exchanging good
practice, expertise and knowledge between GRaBS
project partners as they created their plan – study
visits, expert papers, the Case Study Database (see
Box 2), seminars and the expert panel have all
contributed to the development of the AAPs.
However, the effectiveness of an AAP will be
limited without a high-level commitment to provide
the resources necessary to deliver the AAP’s
objectives. Thus each GRaBS partner was also
required to produce a High-Level Policy Statement
supporting the implementation of the AAP, and
committing the partner organisation to prioritise
action on adaptation.
Guidance to assist with the development of the
HLPS, included in the AAP Guidance, outlines the
objectives and principles that might underpin the
statement, while providing advice on potential
processes for its preparation. The objective of the
HLPS, as set out in the Guidance, is to demonstrate
commitment to deliver the AAP. The HLPS should fit
within broader policy objectives and core strategies
such as sustainable development and social justice,
and should be written in language that can be
endorsed by political and corporate leaders while
resonating with a much wider audience of
stakeholders and communities. The HLPS can be
Box 2
Case Study Database
Another key GRaBS output is the Case Study Database
developed by Aleksandra Kazmierczak and Jeremy
Carter at the University of Manchester. The Database
describes in detail processes that have supported
adaptation responses in urban areas around the world.
Rather than focusing solely on physical outcomes,
each of the 15 in-depth case studies identifies key
factors in the success of adaptation responses,
including stakeholder collaboration, strong leadership,
public awareness and access to funding – which all
link closely with stages 1 and 2 of the AAP cycle.
The Database includes a description of the
geographical location of each initiative studied, an
outline of themes driving the initiative, and details of
its development and implementation. The Executive
Summary of the Database report provides a snapshot
of each case study, and includes a summary of the
transferable lessons. The Database is available at
www.grabs-eu.org/casestudies.php
adopted across a range of spatial scales as required,
from community plans through to regional or
national levels – with a transcending common
message to powerfully reinforce acceptance of the
need to adapt to climate change.
The HLPS can be informed by a wide range of
sources at European and global levels, such as the
Copenhagen Accord and the 10:10 Agreement. The
Guidance document recommends pre-empting
questions often asked by politicians, such as ‘Why
should we take action?’, ‘What can we do?’, and
‘Will it benefit us economically?’. An HLPS needs to
touch on these questions, while the AAP goes into
the narrative in more detail. By taking a collaborative
approach towards the development of the HLPS, a
wide range of expertise and knowledge can be
captured to develop a shared vision and ownership
of the AAP. This collaborative approach was a key
component of the entire GRaBS project and is
exemplified in the production of the HLPS.
The Guidance document was intended to give a
lead to the GRaBS partners in adaptation planning.
Feedback received from partners throughout the
AAP process has been used to review and update
the Guidance, to ensure that it remains a valuable
resource for improving adaptation planning beyond
the lifespan of the GRaBS project.
● Henry Smith is GRaBS Assistant at the TCPA.
Note
1 Climate Change Adaptation Action Plan Guidance. GRaBS
Paper. TCPA. www.grabs-eu.org/downloads/GRaBS3-
4%20Adaptation%20Action%20Plan%20Guidance.pdf
Town & Country Planning June 2011 : GRaBS Project – INTERREG IVC; ERDF-funded 261