Climate impact diagrams aim to build a shared understanding among all city stakeholders on the opportunities and risks of climate change for the different city sectors. It is a first step to start the conversation about climate change adaptation and work towards a joint approach for taking climate measures, identifying co-benefits and offering ideas for action.
Impact diagrams present a simplified, visual summary of current scientific knowledge of climate effects and climate consequences in a city. The diagrams help to gain more insight into opportunities and risks and can kickstart the search for additional knowledge or collaboration partners.
The impact diagrams workshop can be organised by cities on their own, but for a more thorough approach, it is necessary to bring climate science expertise to the workshop (e.g., from the national meteorological service).
Logroño used this tool during the first workshop to build an understanding among these city stakeholders on opportunities and risks of climate change for city sectors. Three impact chain diagrams were built: one for heat, another one on floods and a third one on droughts. The tool also allowed to work on a risk matrix where extreme heatwaves and pluvial flooding events were selected as key priorities to be further analysed based on the severity of the impacts and the probability of occurrence in the coming decades. Explore the results here.
These outcomes can be used to prepare for the Sustainable Energy and Climate Action Plan (SECAP).
The impact diagrams are a decision support tool that are appealing for policymakers. They visualise possible outcomes for those making climate investment decisions and enhance dialogue between science and policy.
They offer a visual summary of the climate change impacts by sector (economic, social and natural) in order to contribute to the development of adaptation plans.
Impact diagrams can help cities and city staff to gain insight into the opportunities and risks of climate change for their own field of work, and can enable focussed discussion between stakeholders about adaptation options and priorities.
The cost and effort for running this workshop in its basic form are low. Descriptions are available, and it has no technical requirements. The workshop typically takes one morning or afternoon. However, if a supporting literature review is needed, this would require additional time and effort.
For a practical guide on how to develop impact diagrams and organize a workshop, please refer to the Climate impact diagrams & risk workshop guide.
Sophie van der Horst and Timo Kelder
info@climateadaptationservices.com
Climate Adaptation Services (CAS)
Impact diagrams were first presented in the Dutch National Climate Adaptation Strategy (2016) to complement the IPCCs climate change assessments with national climate scenarios and sector specific impacts. Find more information here.
The tool begins with a city specific analysis of climate trends, based on models and observations. All REACHOUT tools that are able to describe such trends work well with the development of climate impact diagrams. These include for example the Thermal Assessment Tool (Tecnalia), Community Flood Resilience Support System (Deltares) and Pluvial flood hazard and risk assessment (CMCC).
During an extreme rainfall event, Jan watches in fear as water rises dangerously close to flooding his apartment. His experience highlights the urgent need for climate adaptation in Gdynia, inspiring the community to take action and build a more resilient future together.
