Analysis of Approaches to Country-level National Adaptation Plans for Climate Change

Abstract

This study looked at nine developed countries including Japan to examine their approaches to ensure comprehensiveness in climate adaptation plans, as well as their degree of specificity. It analyzed the characteristics of the adaptation plans and classified their patterns of evolution. Four major patterns were identified: comprehensive and conceptual strategies are formulated first, followed by comprehensive and specific adaptation plans; comprehensive and specific plans are fully formulated at the start; a comprehensive framework or strategy is formulated, and then an adaptation plan is formulated for each agency (sector) or the most important sector(s) in the country; or only a general framework or strategy is formulated, and then each region is left to formulate its own plans or measures. Possible factors driving the differences between countries could be the existence of robust and extensive regional guidelines (e.g., the European Union’s adaptation strategy package), differences in geographical characteristics, and the existence of legislation or presidential orders, etc.