11.8.3 Assessing risks and opportunities of climate change for different scenarios

Impact scenarios underpin policy decisions about adaptation options and emission reduction targets. The following analyses are required for the full range of SRES and CO₂ stabilisation scenarios:

• definition of the probabilities of exceeding critical biophysical and socio-economic thresholds and assessment of consequent vulnerability or new opportunities,
• assessment of net costs and benefits for key economic sectors and for each country,
• better modelling of land-use change as climatic boundaries shift, and assessment of the implications for regional development, social change, food security and sustainability.