Climate Change and Tourism - UNEP - Division of Technology ...

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UNWTO, 9 July 2008
Impacts and Adaptation at Tourism Destinations
recognise that adaptation occurs at different levels – in particular, at the local level;
recognise that adaptation will be an ongoing process.
The Asian Development Bank developed framework and a set of guidelines to facilitate the implementation
of adaptation policies in developing countries (Figure 9.15). While these are not tourism-specific they
are highly relevant for the tourism sector. The framework aims to enhance the adaptive capacities of
these countries and their resilience to climate change and climate variability, including extreme events.
493 The overarching goal of the risk-based approach to climate change adaptation is to manage both
current and future risks associated with actual and potential climate hazards. Case studies have been
reported on highlighting the range of levels at which adaptation takes place and the linkages between
them. Two cases studies illustrate how and why reducing climate-related risks is an integral part of
sustainable development. The process included a climate risk profiling for the sites and stakeholder
analysis. The case studies identified three levels of adaptation activity: project/community level, sector
level (e.g., tourism), as well as policy and planning at regional/national levels. ‘Climate proofing’ policy
decisions proved to be effective: case studies involving infrastructure projects (e.g., roads) and strategic
development plans in Micronesia indicated that many of the costs of damage attributable to climate
change were avoided if ‘climate proofing’ was undertaken at the design stage of the project.
Figure 9.15 Guidelines for adaptation mainstreaming
A. Guidelines relating to the principles underpinning the mainstreaming of adaptation
Guideline 1: Manage climate risks as an integral part of sustainable development
Guideline 2: Ensure intergenerational equity related to climate risks
Guideline 3: Adopt a coordinated, integrated and long-term approach to adaptation
Guideline 4: Achieve the full potential of partnerships
Guideline 5: Adaptation should exploit the potential of sustainable technologies
Guideline 6: Base decisions on credible, comparable and objective information
Guideline 7: Maximize the use of existing information and management systems
Guideline 8: Strengthen and utilize in-country expertise
Guideline 9: Strengthen and maximize use of existing regulations, codes, tools
B. Guidelines relating to enhancing the enabling environment for adaptation
Guideline 10: ‘Climate proof’ relevant legislation and regulations
Guideline 11: Strengthen institutions to support the ‘climate proofing’ of development
Guideline 12: Ensure macroeconomic policies and conditions favor ‘climate proofing’
Guideline 13: Ensure favourable access to affordable financing of ‘climate proofed’ development initiatives
C. Guidelines relating to the process of mainstreaming adaptation
Guideline 14: Characterize climate-related risks that require sustained attention
Guideline 15: Replicate the knowledge, motivation and skills that facilitate successful adaptation
Guideline 16: Enhance the capacity for continuous adaptation
Guideline 17: Ensure ‘climate proofing’ activities complement other development initiatives
Guideline 18: A Process of continual improvement in adaptation outcomes
Source: Asian Development Bank (2005)
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