Tailoring climate responses to local changes

6-Step Methodology for Climate Risk Assessment 🌎 Addressing climate-related risks is increasingly essential as extreme weather events, resource scarcity, and ecosystem disruptions become more frequent and severe. Effective Climate Risk Management (CRM) equips governments, organizations, and communities with the tools to anticipate, prepare for, and mitigate these impacts. A structured approach to climate risk assessment not only identifies vulnerabilities but also informs proactive measures that protect lives, livelihoods, and essential infrastructure. The GP L&D’s 6-step methodology offers a practical, systematic framework for understanding and addressing climate risks, integrating these insights into public policies and investment decisions to build resilience and promote sustainable development. The first step in this methodology is to analyze the current status to determine information needs and set specific objectives. Establishing a clear baseline of vulnerabilities helps ensure that the entire process remains aligned with the climate resilience goals set out from the start. From here, a hotspot and capacity analysis is conducted, identifying regions and systems most exposed to climate risks—such as droughts or floods—and evaluating the local capacity to respond. This targeted analysis allows for efficient resource allocation by pinpointing areas of highest priority. The methodology then adapts to local contexts by developing a tailored approach that reflects unique socio-economic and environmental factors. This customization enhances the relevance and accuracy of the risk assessment, making it more actionable and specific to each setting. Following this, a comprehensive risk assessment is conducted, using both qualitative and quantitative measures to capture the full range of potential impacts. This dual assessment provides a complete understanding of direct impacts, such as infrastructure damage, and indirect consequences, like disruptions to livelihoods. An evaluation of risk tolerance follows, defining acceptable levels of risk and helping prioritize the most urgent interventions. This clarity on risk thresholds ensures that resources are directed to where they are most needed. Finally, the methodology identifies feasible, cost-effective measures to mitigate, adapt to, or prevent potential losses and damages. This step aligns recommended actions with budget and policy constraints, ensuring that interventions are practical and impactful. By adopting this structured approach, decision-makers can better manage climate risks, develop adaptive strategies, and enhance resilience tailored to local needs and resources. Source: Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) #sustainability #sustainable #business #esg #climatechange #climateaction

I recently had the opportunity to discuss with Marcia Toledo Sotillo, director of #adaptation and #resilience at the UN High-Level Climate Champions, about our experience in democratizing climate risk assessment. The Race to Resilience campaign, led by the High-Level Climate Champions, has set an ambitious goal: enhance the resilience of 4 billion people by 2030 by mobilizing action from the so-called "non-state actors" - local communities, NGOs, companies... Assessing and understanding climate risks is the first step of this transformation. Thanks to five decades of intensive research in climate science and earth system modeling, information about future climate and its impacts is available at unprecedented precision and depth. However, accessing and interpreting this data can be almost impossible for non-state actors, as it requires very specific technical and scientific expertise. Since 2019, Callendar has been bridging this gap by developing tools that transform scientific data into ready-to-use, localized information. Our solutions cater to a wide range of stakeholders, from billion-dollar industrial projects to individuals. In 2024, we delivered climate risk assessments - such as submersion, heatwave or wildfire - to over 230,000 people in France. While a far cry of the 4 billion target, it represents a scalable model that can be replicated globally. I strongly believe that delivering high-quality, actionable climate impact assessments to half of humanity within 5 years is technically feasible. However, there is no one-size-fits-all solution for adaptation. Climate impacts vary greatly from one place to another and solutions must be tailored to local contexts. To be truly effective, our approach requires both global endorsement and local collaboration, ensuring that communities have access to tools and support tailored to their specific needs.

I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Julie Kjestrup on the Climate Group's 50 Shades of Green podcast to discuss my vision for Mercy Corps as we partner alongside communities to adapt to climate change. It’s always a joy to share more about the depth and breadth of my colleagues’ work to deliver locally led climate programming that’s specific to their unique contexts. And we know there are many effective climate adaptation solutions we can scale, where we’ve seen incredible success in places like the Caribbean, Ethiopia, and Kenya.  For instance, the Islands in the Caribbean are among the most at risk to the effects of climate change, with storms and hurricanes becoming more intense and devastating. Through Mercy Corps’ Caribbean Resilience Initiative, we partner with local organizations to deliver necessities like food, cash, and water after climate emergencies, and help communities build long-term climate resilience. From training on water distribution and solar energy systems, locally operated Resilience Hubs connect people with internet, off-grid solar energy, community gardens and more so communities can better weather these inevitable storms.   In the Horn of Africa, severe drought and flooding are putting immense pressure on pastoralist and farmer livelihoods. Mercy Corps supports communities to make data-driven decisions to combat climate change. For instance, our technology provides early warnings about El Niño rainfall predictions, allowing farmers to prepare for heavy rains and move to higher ground if necessary. We combine grassroots support with municipal government advocacy to create meaningful change.    If you are curious about Mercy Corps’ evolution into a climate-focused organization or want to hear some of the challenges and lessons learned from other exciting initiatives – like our venture powering Sheder refugee camp in Ethiopia with affordable solar energy – tune in to this episode.   cc Allison, Nelson, MOHAMED, Josephine, Emmanuel, Cecilia I'm looking forward to continuing these discussions around scaling climate adaptation solutions and connecting at #ClimateWeekNYC. More on that soon!

✋ Read the guidebook from Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy (GCoM) - How to develop a risk and vulnerability assessment 🌍 The Covenant of Mayors Guidebook, developed by the European Commission Joint Research Centre, offers step-by-step guidance for municipalities to design effective Risk and Vulnerability Assessments (RVAs) – a foundation for local climate adaptation planning 🔎 Key Highlights 📖 Grounded in science & practice – Aligned with the IPCC framework, RVAs merge scientific data with local knowledge to map climate risks 🏙️ Local focus – Municipalities assess climate hazards, exposure, and vulnerabilities across people, infrastructure, and ecosystems. 🛠️ Practical tools – Provides methods for hazard identification, risk matrices, vulnerability mapping, and adaptive capacity analysis 🤝 Collaborative approach – Stresses team building, stakeholder engagement, and participatory methods to strengthen ownership and trust 🎯 Action-oriented outcomes – Supports setting adaptation goals, prioritising actions, and embedding them in Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plans (SECAPs). 🔄 Continuous improvement – Encourages monitoring, iterative learning, and integration with broader EU adaptation strategies. 💡By combining data-driven insights with community engagement, RVAs empower cities to turn climate risks into opportunities for resilience and sustainable growth. 👉 How do you think local governments can best balance technical analysis with community-driven knowledge in climate risk planning? #ClimateAction #Resilience #Adaptation #SustainableCities #RiskManagement #ClimateChange