Designing Climate Change Adaptation Policies: An Economic Framework

41 Pages Posted: 20 Apr 2016

See all articles by S. Hallegatte

S. Hallegatte

World Bank

Franck Lecocq

World Bank - Development Economics Research Group - PFCplus Research

Christian de Perthuis

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: February 1, 2011

Abstract

Adaptation has long been neglected in the debate and policies surrounding climate change. However, increasing awareness of climate change has led many stakeholders to look for the best way to limit its consequences and has resulted in a large number of initiatives related to adaptation, particularly at the local level. This report proposes a general economic framework to help stakeholders in the public sector to develop effective adaptation strategies. To do so, it lays out the general issues involved in adaptation, including the role of uncertainty and inertia, and the need to consider structural changes in addition to marginal adjustments. Then, it identifies the reasons for legitimatepublic action in terms of adaptation, and four main domains of action: the production and dissemination of information on climate change and its impacts; the adaptation of standards, regulations and fiscal policies; the required changes in institutions; and direct adaptation actions of governments and local communities in terms of public infrastructure, public buildings and ecosystems. Finally, the report suggests a method to build public adaptation plans and to assess the desirability of possible policies.

Keywords: Climate Change Economics, Wetlands, Climate Change Mitigation and Green House Gases, Adaptation to Climate Change, Science of Climate Change

Suggested Citation

Hallegatte, Stephane and Lecocq, Franck and de Perthuis, Christian, Designing Climate Change Adaptation Policies: An Economic Framework (February 1, 2011). World Bank Policy Research Working Paper No. 5568, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1761894

Stephane Hallegatte

World Bank ( email )

1818 H Street NW
Washington, DC 20433
United States

Franck Lecocq

World Bank - Development Economics Research Group - PFCplus Research ( email )

1818 H Street, N.W.
Washington, DC 20433
United States
202-473-1000 (Phone)
202-477-6391 (Fax)

Christian De Perthuis

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

Do you have a job opening that you would like to promote on SSRN?

Paper statistics

Downloads
715
Abstract Views
2,524
Rank
77,380
PlumX Metrics