The Use of Climate Information for Climate Resilience and Adaptation: Current Practices

With the need for action on adaptation gaining growing attention in public discourse on climate change, the use of climate data from observations and climate model simulations has been rapidly expanding. This includes areas such as designing climate-resilient critical infrastructure and valuating assets of financial institutions. How climate information is applied in these emerging areas of adaptation practice has significant practical, economic and financial implications. Using a set of case studies, this paper illustrates the current practices of how climate information is applied to inform climate-resilient infrastructure development in multilateral climate funds and development banks, and to assess physical climate risks by financial institutions. Two main challenges are identified: a disconnect between what climate data is needed to inform certain decisions and analyses and what is currently available, and a lack of common standards and professional scrutiny around the provision of climate services. Opportunities to help address these challenges are highlighted for the providers and users of climate information.