Appendix A
Generic criteria for DNSH to climate change adaptation
I. Criteria
The physical climate risks that are material to the activity have been identified from those listed in the table in Section II of this Appendix by performing a robust climate risk and vulnerability assessment with the following steps:
The climate risk and vulnerability assessment is proportionate to the scale of the activity and its expected lifespan, such that:
The climate projections and assessment of impacts are based on best practice and available guidance and take into account the state-of-the-art science for vulnerability and risk analysis and related methodologies in line with the most recent Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change reports (2), scientific peer-reviewed publications, and open source (3) or paying models. For existing activities and new activities using existing physical assets, the economic operator implements physical and non-physical solutions (‘adaptation solutions’), over a period of time of up to five years, that reduce the most important identified physical climate risks that are material to that activity. An adaptation plan for the implementation of those solutions is drawn up accordingly. For new activities and existing activities using newly-built physical assets, the economic operator integrates the adaptation solutions that reduce the most important identified physical climate risks that are material to that activity at the time of design and construction and has implemented them before the start of operations. The adaptation solutions implemented do not adversely affect the adaptation efforts or the level of resilience to physical climate risks of other people, of nature, of cultural heritage, of assets and of other economic activities; are consistent with local, sectoral, regional or national adaptation strategies and plans; and consider the use of nature-based solutions (4) or rely on blue or green infrastructure (5) to the extent possible. |
II. Classification of climate-related hazards (6)
|
Temperature-related |
Wind-related |
Water-related |
Solid mass-related |
Chronic |
Changing temperature (air, freshwater, marine water) |
Changing wind patterns |
Changing precipitation patterns and types (rain, hail, snow/ice) |
Coastal erosion |
Heat stress |
|
Precipitation or hydrological variability |
Soil degradation |
|
Temperature variability |
|
Ocean acidification |
Soil erosion |
|
Permafrost thawing |
|
Saline intrusion |
Solifluction |
|
|
|
Sea level rise |
|
|
|
|
Water stress |
|
|
Acute |
Heat wave |
Cyclone, hurricane, typhoon |
Drought |
Avalanche |
Cold wave/frost |
Storm (including blizzards, dust and sandstorms) |
Heavy precipitation (rain, hail, snow/ice) |
Landslide |
|
Wildfire |
Tornado |
Flood (coastal, fluvial, pluvial, ground water) |
Subsidence |
|
|
|
Glacial lake outburst |
|
(1) Future scenarios include Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change representative concentration pathways RCP2.6, RCP4.5, RCP6.0 and RCP8.5.
(2) Assessments Reports on Climate Change: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, published periodically by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body for assessing the science related to climate change produces, https://www.ipcc.ch/reports/.
(3) Such as Copernicus services managed by the European Commission.
(4) Nature-based solutions are defined as ‘solutions that are inspired and supported by nature, which are cost-effective, simultaneously provide environmental, social and economic benefits and help build resilience. Such solutions bring more, and more diverse, nature and natural features and processes into cities, landscapes and seascapes, through locally adapted, resource-efficient and systemic interventions’. Therefore, nature-based solutions benefit biodiversity and support the delivery of a range of ecosystem services (version of 27.6.2023: https://ec.europa.eu/research/environment/index.cfm?pg=nbs).
(5) See Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions: Green Infrastructure (GI) – Enhancing Europe’s Natural Capital (COM(2013) 249 final).
(6) The list of climate-related hazards in this table is non-exhaustive, and constitutes only an indicative list of most widespread hazards that are to be taken into account as a minimum in the climate risk and vulnerability assessment.