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Policy screening


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These methods of policy analysis as referred to as addressing "climate-screening". They analyse to what extent development goals are compatible with climate risks and adaptation strategies (Przyluski and Hallegatte 2010). It comprises studies which investigate the empirical evidence of mainstreaming in development assistance (e.g. Klein 2001; Klein and Persson 2008; Klein et al. 2007). It also includes,studies that analyse which policy goals may be threatened by climate impacts (e.g. Sietz et al, 2011; Dasgupta and Baschieri, 2010). For example, Dasgupta and Baschieri (2010) analyse poverty reduction strategies in Ghana. They find that rural poverty reduction strategies do not account for climate impacts, and focus on money-metric indicators of poverty. They find that mainstreaming climate change into development strategies, which would mean policies targeting broader indicators of poverty that also incorporate climate impacts, is necessary to protect poverty reduction goals, i.e. improving the welfare of the poor. The result of these studies is the identification of opportunities to improve the incorporation of consideration of climate risks into policy processes, and existing policies.

Question addressed

Identify policy goals which may be affected by climate change.

Conditions of applicability

Climate change impacts, adaptation and vulnerability are a result of many actors interacting and making many interrelated decisions.

Theoretical assumptions

There is a direct predictable relationship between policies and outcomes.

Steps taken

1. Identify relevant institutions and actors 2. Document analysis and interviews with actors on policy development 3. Analyse impacts of climate change on policy goals

Results achieved

Identified opportunities for improved policies

Issues involved

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Example cases from literature

Klein et al. (2007) develop a method for mainstreaming climate adaptation concerns into development organisations. The study conducted interviews and examined project documents for several prominent aid organisations, considering the extent to which climate change has been taken into account in the policy and project planning stages.

External cases (global)


This section is based on the UNEP PROVIA guidance document


Criteria checklist

1. You want to identify adaptation options.
2. Your focus is on public actors and on collective actions.
3. There is no simple coordination solution.
4. It is not sufficient to describe actors and institutions.
5. Outcomes of institutional arrangements can be predicted.
6. Policy design and mainstreaming have been addressed.
7. Climate risks for the relevant policy are not known.