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SESSION DESCRIPTION
D2
Comprehensive climate risk management:
Selecting the right pieces of the puzzle
Workshop
Date: Tuesday, 9 June, 2015
Time: 14:30-16:00
Rooms: S25-26
Language:
Contact:
E-mail/web:
Organized by:
English
Michael Hoppe;
[email protected]/www.giz.de
GIZ: Global program on risk assessment
and management for adaptation to climate
change (Loss & Damage) & MexicanGerman Alliance on Climate Change
OBJECTIVE
In recent years the international community has increasingly been considering losses and damages
associated with climate change impacts in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to
climate change. Loss and damage can occur in human as well as in natural systems and cause major
setbacks for sustainable development and human wellbeing. Policy-makers and the population in
general are facing the immense challenge of dealing with climate risks, which requires the development
and implementation of comprehensive climate risk management approaches. Climate risk management
is key to achieve development goals and to reduce vulnerability.
Cities in particular face the challenge of managing increasing climate risks; as continuous, unplanned
growth and higher population density exacerbate pressure on natural resources and urban
infrastructure and thus climate vulnerability. Leaders and policy-makers face a constant challenge of
better urban planning and designing climate risk management strategies and therefore choosing the
best climate change adaptation and risk management options.
To address these challenges, this workshop introduced participants to the loss and damage debate
with regards to cities and improved capacities regarding disaster and climate risk management. This
was achieved through the introduction of a decision-making tool for selecting adaptation measures
based on multi-criteria and cost-benefit analysis for better resource allocation. Participants learned how
to approach disaster and climate risk management in urban areas as well as how to make decisions on
the design and prioritization of measures. It also provided a starting point to think about potential losses
and damages due to climate change impacts in their specific context and on the urgent need for
effective decision-making approaches to select the best adaptation and risk management options in a
context of scarce resources.
OUTCOMES
Participants left the workshop session with:

A better understanding of the costs of no-adaptation, the loss and damage debate in the
UNFCCC negotiations and of the challenges climate related losses and damages pose to
urban areas;

A better understanding on why and how climate change adaptation should be integrated into
urban planning and how disaster risk management can be complemented by adaptation
strategies; and

Knowledge on how to apply a tool for prioritizing and selecting appropriate adaptation
measures.
METHODOLOGY
Facilitators
Michael Hoppe, Advisor, Global program on risk assessment and management for
adaptation to climate change, GIZ, Bonn, Germany;
Andrea Kuhlmann, Project Manager Mexican-German Alliance on Climate Change, GIZ
Mexico Mexico City, Mexico;
Sofía Muñoz Alarcón; Consultant to the Mexican-German Alliance on Climate Change,
Mexico City, Mexico;
Camilo de la Garza, Advisor on Environment and Climate Change Policy, GIZ Mexico,
Mexico City, Mexico;
14:30 - 14:40
The facilitators provided a short introductory film on adaptation
M. Hoppe/ A. Kuhlmann/ S. Muñoz/ C. de la Garza Facilitators, GIZ; Germany/Mexico
14:40 – 14:55
(including questions & answers):
The session began with a presentation on the significance of the Loss and Damage
debate for urban areas and explored how it addresses climate risks by better linking
disaster risk management with long-term adaptation planning in order to improve urban
resilience. A handout with guiding questions for reflection was provided to the
audience. Participants were given the chance to ask questions on loss & damage and
briefly share their most important challenges.
Michael Hoppe, Facilitator, GIZ Germany
14:55 – 15:10
The session then turned more application-oriented. The facilitators presented the 7
steps of the methodology for prioritizing adaptation measures – a methodology
developed in Mexico, based on multi-criteria and cost-benefit analysis and aiming to
orient and facilitate decision-making for adaptation planning. The facilitators presented
the logical approach of the 7 steps and a general overview of the tool. A handout with a
summary description of the methodology step-by-step was provided to the audience.
Andrea Kuhlmann / Sofía Muñoz, Facilitators, GIZ México
15:10 - 15:45
Participants worked in 2 small groups to step through the prioritization tool, based on
proposed case examples relating it to their work context.
In this part of the session, a simple example was used in each group as a means to
walk through the most important steps: The multi-criteria analysis and the cost-benefit
analysis. Excel tools for these steps were used and the participants we asked to give
contributions and learn together how to use the different tools.
15:45 – 16:00
Summary of break-out session and conclusions
Further recommended reading
Blog: Climate.blue (in German and Spanish)
http://climate.blue/de/;
UNFCCC website
http://unfccc.int/adaptation/workstreams/loss_and_damage/items/7585.php
Cambridge Institute for Sustainable Leadership
http://www.cisl.cam.ac.uk/business-action/low-carbon-transformation/ipcc-briefings/cities