Abstract
The importance of adapting to climate change is increasingly recognized in Norway. The complex nature of climate change and varying levels of vulnerability across regions necessitate locally tailored strategies and cross-sectoral adaptation. A particular concern in Norway is the growing challenge of stormwater management, exacerbated by increased precipitation and changing precipitation patterns. This paper introduces a user-friendly and tailored sustainability assessment framework designed to evaluate and compare stormwater management measures. The framework was developed collaboratively by researchers, seven municipalities in Norway, and private stakeholders. The research addresses three research questions: 1) Is it possible to integrate local needs and goals into a user-friendly framework that is aligned with relevant Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)?, 2) Can indicators employing a simplified scale be utilized to differentiate between nature-based, hybrid and grey solutions enabling more efficient assessments?, and 3) Can a user-friendly framework assist municipalities in making informed decisions regarding the implementation of climate change adaptation measures? The study confirmed that local objectives can be integrated into a user-friendly framework that aligns with relevant SDGs. The incorporation of 3-point relative scoring indicators further enhances the framework’s user-friendliness. The use of the relative scale is effective in distinguishing among nature-based, hybrid, and grey solutions. The comprehensive approach of the framework, along with its visualization tools, promotes understanding and comparison of various solutions, thereby fostering interdisciplinary collaboration and systematic documentation for municipalities.