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SEI brief

Decision Support Methods for Climate Change Adaptation: Analytic Hierarchy Process

There is increasing policy interest in the appraisal of options, as adaptation moves from theory to practice. At the same time, it is recognised that the appraisal of climate change adaptation involves a number of major challenges, particularly the consideration of uncertainty. In response, a number of existing and new decision support tools are being considered for adaptation.

Sukaina Bharwani, Richard Taylor, Paul Watkiss, Tahia Devisscher / Published on 15 October 2013
Citation

Bharwani, S.; Varela-Ortega, C.; Blanco, I.; Esteve, P.; Juarez, E.; Trombi, G.; Moriondo, M.; Bindi, M.; Devisscher, T.; Taylor, R.; Watkiss, P. (2013). Decision Support Methods for Climate Change Adaptation: Analytic Hierarchy Process. Briefing Note Series: Summary of Methods and Case Study Examples from the MEDIATION Project. Funded by the EC’s 7FWP.

The European Commission FP7 funded MEDIATION project (Methodology for Effective Decision-making on Impacts and AdaptaTION) is looking at adaptation decision support tools, in line with its objectives to advance the analysis of impacts, vulnerability and adaptation, and to promote knowledge sharing through the MEDIATION Adaptation Platform (http://www.mediation-project.eu/platform/).

To complement the information on the Platform, a series of Technical Policy Briefing Notes have been produced on Decision Support Methods for Climate Change Adaptation. This Policy Brief (Note 7) provides a summary of the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP). It provides a brief synthesis of the approach, its strengths and weaknesses, the relevance for adaptation, how it considers uncertainty, and presents case study examples. It is stressed that this note only provides an overview: more detailed information is available in MEDIATION deliverables, and sources and links on the Adaptation Platform.

Download the Briefing Note (PDF: 776kb)

SEI authors

Sukaina Bharwani

Senior Research Fellow and weADAPT Director

SEI Oxford

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Richard Taylor

Senior Research Fellow

SEI Oxford

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Paul Watkiss

SEI Affiliated Researcher

SEI Oxford

Profile picture of Tahia Devisscher
Tahia Devisscher

SEI Affiliated Researcher

SEI Oxford

Topics and subtopics
Climate : Adaptation
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