Information generated in applying DAFs in sectoral and regional climate impact assessment studies is oriented primarily toward decisionmakers who have the mandate to initiate and implement public policies to reduce future adverse impacts of climate change. Just the attempt to integrate adaptation options into selected DAFs would force analysts to think comprehensively and achieve internal consistency, to consider broader factors beyond the influence of sectoral or regional stakeholders. Even though a comprehensive CBA or DA remains difficult to develop, the overall quality of the impact assessment improves.

A second, equally important use of these results is to help define GHG mitigation objectives. National and regional positions at global negotiations on long-term climate stabilization targets (with respect to anthropogenic forcing) apparently are influenced by perceived risks involved in climate change as well as net damage remaining even after plausible and affordable adaptation options have been considered.

Admittedly, it is a difficult task to formulate impact/adaptation studies properly in any DAF. This explains the modest progress in the field since the SAR. Regional and sectoral chapters in this volume review a small number of DAF applications, whereas there was hardly any application on which to report in the SAR.

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