The Process
In order to ensure that the adaptation actions and measures to be adopted will be:
- appropriate for the type of problem
- good investments
- socially, economically and environmentally acceptable
the Projet Adaptation PA is following a rigorous 5-step process:
1) Scenarios and risks [Communities which passed this stage]
2) Maps and zoning [Communities which passed this stage]
3) Priorities and potential strategies [Communities which passed this stage]
4) Evaluation and strategy selection [Communities which passed this stage]
5) Implementation plans [Communities which passed this stage]
To make enlightened choices about the best measures or actions to be taken to limit the risks of damage and risks to human health posed by erosion and flooding, we must know what these risks are. This is the goal of step 1: Scenarios and risks, where flooding and erosion scenarios are developed and the risks to infrastructures evaluated. This step provides a better understanding of current and future phenomena and risks.
Once the scenarios have been developed, a decision must be made as to which ones to plan for. This is the goal of step 2: Maps and zoning. During this step, a working group recommends the scenarios to be used for planning purposes. The delineation of the areas at risk is based on these scenarios. The working group also makes zoning recommendations.
Then, it is possible to identify what is at risk (or at stake) and prioritize the elements at stake based on their human, economic, cultural and environmental importance to the community. This is the goal of step 3: Priorities and potential strategies. A working group identifies and prioritizes elements at stake within the risk areas. It is also during this step that preliminary adaptation strategies are considered.
Step 4: Evaluation and selection of strategies can involve conducting more extensive studies for some of the adaptation measures under consideration, such as technical studies, feasibility evaluations or cost-benefit analyses. Once the pros and cons have been considered, a final decision can be made.
Finally, in Step 5: Implementation plans, the details on when and how the actions to be taken will be implemented are defined.
Several communities have already gone through the initial steps of the process.
