Guidance on Integrating Climate Change and Biodiversity into ...

Table 8: Examples of key questions for identifying climate change adaptation issuesMain concerns related to:Key questions that could be asked at the screening and/or scoping stage of the SEAHeat waves • What are the key terrestrial habitats and migration corridors that may besignificantly affected by heat waves? How will the proposed PP impact on them?• What urban areas, population groups or economic activities are most vulnerable toheat waves? How will the PP impact on them?• Does the PP reduce or enhance the ‘urban heat island’ effect?• Will the PP increase or reduce the resilience of landscape/forests to wildlife fires?Droughts • What are the key terrestrial habitats and migration corridors that may besignificantly affected by droughts? How will the PP impact on them?• Will the PP increase water demand and to what extent?• Are there any significant risks associated with worsening water quality duringdroughts (increased pollution concentrations due to limited dilution, saline intrusion,etc.)?• Which freshwater bodies will be exposed to excessive water pollution — especiallyduring droughts when the pollution will become less diluted in reduced rivervolumes?Flood regimes and extremerainfall events• What infrastructure (e.g. existing or planned road segments, water supply, energy,etc.) is at risk due to its location in extreme flood zones?• Is the capacity of drainage networks sufficient to handle potential extreme rainfall?• Does the design of drainage systems prevent channelling drainage water into lowerlaying areas?• Will the proposed PP reduce or enhance the capacity of ecosystems and flood plainsfor natural flood management?• Will the proposed PP increase the exposure of the vulnerable (e.g. the elderly,unwell or young people) or sensitive receptors (e.g. critical infrastructure) to floods?Storms and high winds • What areas and critical infrastructure will be at risk because of storms and strongwinds?Landslides • What property, persons or environmental assets are at risk because of landslides andtheir vulnerability?Sea level rise, stormssurge, coastal erosion,hydrological regimes andsaline intrusion• What are the key aquatic, riverine and coastal habitats and migration corridors thatmay be significantly adversely affected by sea level rise, coastal erosion, changes inhydrological regimes and salinity levels? How will the proposed PP impact on them?• What are the key infrastructural assets (e.g. road segments and intersections, watersupply infrastructure; energy infrastructure; industrial zones and major landfills) atrisk due to their location in areas that may be inundated by sea level rise or subjectto coastal erosion? Will the proposed PP reduce or increase these risks?• What areas may be affected by saline intrusion? Will the proposed PP reduce orincrease these risks?Cold spells • What areas and critical infrastructure will be at risk because of short periods ofunusually cold weather, blizzards or frost?Freeze-thaw damage • What key infrastructure (e.g. roads, water pipes, etc.) is at risk of freeze-thawdamage?34 <strong>Guidance</strong> on integrating climate change and biodiversity into SEA