Prioritising climate risks for spatial assessment (JBA Consulting)

Prioritising climate risks for spatial assessment provides a better understanding of which risks could benefit from a spatial perspective in CCRA4-IA. Although the impacts of climate change and the effectiveness of adaptation measures are geography dependent, the benefits of a risk assessment vary by risk, due to the nature of the risk, dataset availability and/or analytical capability.

The project prioritises the 52 domestic risks in CCRA3-IA with regards to the benefit derived from a spatial assessment in CCRA4-IA. Four proof-of-concept mini-projects are undertaken to delve into methodological challenges and opportunities to help inform future analytical commissions.

The key findings are:

• Infrastructure risks are a particularly high priority as they underpin services to communities, businesses and society. 

• It’s easier to identify links between risks and assets/services and geography when taking a spatial, systems-framed perspective.

• There are regional disparities across devolved administrations with regards to spatial risk assessment capability. 

• Spatial risk assessment needs to include an assessment of both hazard and vulnerability, and for some risks a focus on understanding vulnerability is required.