How to identify decision-making criteria for your adaptation options. This lecture was held in the researcher training sessions which are part of the Adapting to Climate Change in China II project. http://www.ccadaptation.org.cn/

1. Establishing the basis for choosing
from among alternative adaptation
options
Identifying the Decision-making
Criteria

3. Why is this necessary?
• To Establish and articulate the basis for choosing from among alternative
adaptation options
• to identify which among the identified options will deliver the required
adaptation. What are appropriate adaptation targets? What does success
look like?
• to translate the broad objectives into terms that can be used within the
risk based adaptation planning process
Decision Making criteria are used when:
» identifying options;
• assessing the relative
performance of the
different adaptation
options
• Should reflect
uncertainties, but
also the decision-
making process and
the attitude to risk
• Agreed by the PAP
team and key
stakeholders

4. Characteristics
Criteria for choosing from among the different options are to some degree
determined by:
• Legislative and regulatory environment
• Other stakeholders and decision makers – potential for different and conflicting
views on what is success
• Budgets and timeframes
Establishing an initial set of decision making criteria at this phase in the adaptation
planning process has the benefit of guiding the overall assessment process – a
common and agreed set of aims that defines success
There will be a need to revisit
these decision making criteria
during the adaptation planning
process as further information
comes to light – need to continue
to test the validity of the identified
criteria

5. Characteristics
Need the basis for choosing from among alternative options to be
‘SMART’
• Specific – target a specific area for action
• Measurable – quantifiable or a least suggest an indication of
progress that can be measured
• Attainable – clearly specifies who or what is the target for action
and who is responsible to deliver
• Realistic – link to what is possible given available resources and
capacities (but also recognising constraints)
• Time-bound – specify when the results are needed
The basis for choosing from among the alternative options need to:
• Be clearly based on the objective (clear link back to the objective);
and
• Provide sufficient information to support the appraisal of the
adaptation options, but also to guide the overall risk assessment –
is the risk assessment targeted to provide information that address
the objective and support the decision-making process

6. Core Principles and Values
A set of core principles and values to guide and assist the risk assessment and
adaptation option appraisal can also be beneficial:
Legitimacy – belief in, support for (including provision of resources) for
the actions
Equity – who or what is being affected by the action relative to those
impacted by the risk
Efficiency – fit with budget, planning timelines and technical capacity
Effectiveness – in addressing the risks and delivering in the broader
context
Sustainability – contribution to sustainability and degree to which the
action is sustainable
Acceptability - socially, culturally, environmentally and politically
Urgency and timing – match in terms of timing for required action and
planning cycles
Costs – associated economic, social and environmental costs
Coherence – consistency with other development goals and priorities
(synergies and conflicts
Robust – incorporation of uncertainty, safety margins and flexibility

7. Possible structure for establishing criteria
Objective
Criteria Statement
Target
area/population
Assessment targets
Factors to be
considered in relation
to the targets

8. Objective Reduce the frequency of winter fracture injuries in the elderly population
Criteria Statement 20% reduction by 2035 in hospital in-patient elderly admissions and
attendance at outpatient clinics for fracture injuries.
Target area/population (i) Population of people aged over 60 years within health authority districts
throughout the province.
(ii) Hospitals providing inpatient and outpatient orthopaedic services in the
province.
(Additional aspects may be included as factors contributing to the risk
assessment such as significant variability in climate)
Assessment targets i) 90% confidence that the risk of (a) wrist fracture and (b) hip
fracture (expressed as rates per 10,000 population) can be reduced
by 20% by 2035, compared to 2015.
(ii) Probable impact on the total level of emergency visits, hospital
admissions and outpatient clinic attendance due to all fractures that
may result from falls.
Factors to be considered
in relation to the targets
Months (September to March)
Weather (perhaps including consideration of freezing conditions, presence of
snow, wind speed, prolonged wet periods)
Mobility (pre-injury); Gender; Social status; Disability
Domestic situation (living alone, partner/family, sheltered accommodation,
etc.)
Access to transport; Income
Age group (60-70, 70-80, 80+)
Provision of advice to help minimise risk of falling, etc.

9. The elements of the criteria statement
20% reduction by 2035 in hospital in-patient elderly
admissions and attendance at out-patient clinics for fracture
injuries
• Specific – target a specific area for action
• Measurable – quantifiable or a least suggest an indication
of progress that can be measured
• Attainable – clearly specifies who or what is the target for
action and who is responsible to deliver
• Realistic – link to what is possible given available resources
and capacities (but also recognising constraints)
• Time-bound – specify when the results are needed

10. The elements of the criteria statement
20% reduction by 2035 in hospital in-patient elderly
admissions and attendance at out-patient clinics for fracture
injuries
• Specific – target a specific area for action
• Measurable – quantifiable or a least suggest an indication
of progress that can be measured
• Attainable – clearly specifies who or what is the target for
action and who is responsible to deliver
• Realistic – link to what is possible given available resources
and capacities (but also recognising constraints)
• Time-bound – specify when the results are needed

11. The elements of the criteria statement
20% reduction by 2035 in hospital in-patient elderly
admissions and attendance at out-patient clinics for fracture
injuries
• Specific – target a specific area for action
• Measurable – quantifiable or a least suggest an indication
of progress that can be measured
• Attainable – clearly specifies who or what is the target for
action and who is responsible to deliver
• Realistic – link to what is possible given available resources
and capacities (but also recognising constraints)
• Time-bound – specify when the results are needed

12. The elements of the criteria statement
20% reduction by 2035 in hospital in-patient elderly
admissions and attendance at out-patient clinics for fracture
injuries
• Specific – target a specific area for action
• Measurable – quantifiable or a least suggest an indication
of progress that can be measured
• Attainable – clearly specifies who or what is the target for
action and who is responsible to deliver
• Realistic – link to what is possible given available resources
and capacities (but also recognising constraints)
• Time-bound – specify when the results are needed

13. The elements of the criteria statement
20% reduction by 2035 in hospital in-patient elderly
admissions and attendance at out-patient clinics for fracture
injuries
• Specific – target a specific area for action
• Measurable – quantifiable or a least suggest an indication
of progress that can be measured
• Attainable – clearly specifies who or what is the target for
action and who is responsible to deliver
• Realistic – link to what is possible given available
resources and capacities (but also recognising constraints)
• Time-bound – specify when the results are needed

14. The elements of the criteria statement
20% reduction by 2035 in hospital in-patient elderly
admissions and attendance at out-patient clinics for fracture
injuries
• Specific – target a specific area for action
• Measurable – quantifiable or a least suggest an indication
of progress that can be measured
• Attainable – clearly specifies who or what is the target for
action and who is responsible to deliver
• Realistic – link to what is possible given available resources
and capacities (but also recognising constraints)
• Time-bound – specify when the results are needed

15. Exercise
1. Discuss and share your views on the strengths and challenges of
such a structure being used to identify the basis for choosing from
among alternative options
2. Select an objective and from that identify a potential criteria
statement
3. Share views on the potential (strengths and challenges) of that
statement in terms of supporting the risk assessment, the
identification of alternative adaptation options and making
choices from among those alternatives
The intention is not to reach consensus, but rather to share views and
understanding of the potential nature of a criteria statement
In sharing your views, you may also want to consider what this means
in terms of the knowledge and data that you will need, and skills, tools
and capacities that will need to be developed

16. Possible Objective for use in the
exercise
Objective Enhance the capacity of herder populations to cope
with, adapt to and shift strategies in an increasingly
variable and changing climate
Criteria Statement
Target
area/population