The State Government of North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) is developing a Climate Protection Plan that contains the necessary strategies and measures to achieve the goals defined in the State’s Climate Protection Law. On behalf of the State Ministry for Climate Protection, the Wuppertal Institute provides scientific support in the sub-project "Climate Change Adaptation".

In the context of a participatory process, experts from industry, science, administration and civil society were involved to develop measures for reducing vulnerability related to climate change impacts. The submitted proposals have been reviewed and afterwards edited in coordination with the experts.

Similar to the German Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change, a sectoral structure was developed and the individual measures were assigned accordingly. This showed that the development of measures varies as regards their respective state of development in the different fields of action. Therefore, the Wuppertal Institute submitted additional proposals and mobilized an additional number of relevant stakeholders.

In four scientifically monitored workshops on "trade and industry", "urban areas", "rural areas and information", "education and networks", the stakeholders have identified measures that can make an important contribution to climate change adaptation in NRW. The selection criteria for this assessment have been developed and tested by the Wuppertal Institute. Positively rated measures were included in the further process.

This was followed by an evaluation of the workshops and an estimation of the current state of climate change adaptation in the individual fields of action based on the following questions:

• Which stakeholders were reached? Which stakeholders that are relevant for climate change adaptation are not represented?
• What is the status quo in the individual fields of action regarding implementation? (awareness, goal setting, capacity building, implementation of measures)
• Where is a need for action seen in the future and what kind of activity is required?
• What is an appropriate policy mix for further activation?

The internal final report shows requirements and strategies for the on-going development process of the Climate Protection Plan.