Climate Risk Sourcebook
This publication defines Climate risk as a concept and describes how, to what extent and why climate change or climate-related extreme events could bring harm to human or ecological systems or functions. Climate risks are strongly related, but not identical, to climate impacts. Climate impacts describe any type of consequences of extreme weather events (such as heavy rain events or droughts) or slow-onset processes related to climate change (such as increasing temperatures; desertification; loss of biodiversity; land and forest degradation; glacial retreat and related impacts; ocean acidification; sea level rise; and salinization). Such consequences can be direct (e.g. flood damaging infrastructure, heat impacts on human health) or indirect (e.g. cascading effects from damaged infrastructure), adverse (e.g. food insecurity) as well as beneficial (e.g. potentially increased yields in areas currently too cold for certain crops). Climate impacts can be observed (current or past impacts) or potential (impacts that could occur under certain conditions today or in the future). Observed or potential climate impacts can be described qualitatively or quantitatively.
Findings from this publication include:
- Risk is the result of dynamic interactions of risk drivers, impact and risk cascades.
- In addition to hazard, exposure and vulnerability, the importance of risks is determined by values.
- Approaches must be gender-focused.
- Stake holders must be properly and thouroughly engaged.
Explore further
