sei-akp-pb-2013-mainstreaming-adaptation-ee8329eba2afda80.pdf

This policy brief, published by the Stockholm Environment Institute, outlines the process and benefits of 'mainstreaming' climate change adaptation—integrating it into existing development policies, plans, and practices. Drawing on studies from 13 Asian countries and the Regional Climate Change Adaptation Knowledge Platform for Asia (AKP), the document argues that mainstreaming is the most effective way to scale up adaptation across the Asia and Pacific region by avoiding policy conflicts and leveraging larger financial flows.

• Mainstreaming adaptation involves integrating it into existing policies, practices, and plans rather than treating it as a separate issue. This approach is intended to increase the efficiency of scarce resources, raise the profile of adaptation, identify synergies with development, and prevent policy conflicts.
• The process of mainstreaming is iterative and typically takes several years. It follows a progression from raising general awareness and gathering sector-specific climate information to capacity-building for policy-makers, testing new strategies, and eventually incorporating adaptation into 'business as usual'.
• Effective mainstreaming must occur across multiple levels of governance, including national, sectoral, and sub-national levels (ranging from provinces to villages). In cases involving trans-boundary resources or impacts, planning may also need to occur at international regional levels.
• Promising national-level entry points for integrating adaptation include five- and ten-year development plans, disaster risk reduction strategies, water resource strategies, conservation strategies, and poverty reduction strategy papers. The latter are particularly useful as they guide official development assistance (ODA).
• Mainstreaming at the local level is essential to tailor adaptation to specific conditions and engage vulnerable populations, but it is often hindered by centralized government structures and a lack of scaled-down, area-specific climate projections.
• Successful mainstreaming requires inclusive, participatory engagement with stakeholders, including planners, practitioners, and marginalized communities. This approach builds local capacity and increases the perceived legitimacy and accountability of adaptation measures.
• Significant barriers to mainstreaming include conflicts with short-term economic priorities, a lack of institutional capacity or clear strategies in some conservation sectors, and the tendency of governments to prioritize immediate poverty reduction over long-term adaptation benefits.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (n.d.). sei-akp-pb-2013-mainstreaming-adaptation-ee8329eba2afda80.pdf. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-AKP-PB-2013-Mainstreaming-adaptation.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. sei-akp-pb-2013-mainstreaming-adaptation-ee8329eba2afda80.pdf. n.d. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-AKP-PB-2013-Mainstreaming-adaptation.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=sei-akp-pb-2013-mainstreaming-adaptation-ee8329eba2afda80.pdf |url=https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-AKP-PB-2013-Mainstreaming-adaptation.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitutendseiakppb2013mainstreamingadaptationee8329eba2afda80pdf, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{sei-akp-pb-2013-mainstreaming-adaptation-ee8329eba2afda80.pdf}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate/SEI-AKP-PB-2013-Mainstreaming-adaptation.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }