The Economic Case for Climate Change Adaptation (Webinar)

UK Climate Resilience Programme Webinar Series 2021-2022

Date: 8 June 2022, 12.00pm (GMT)

Speaker: Paul Watkiss (Paul Watkiss Associates); respondant: Nigel Miller (Defra)

Chair: Kate Lonsdale

See below for links to the webinar recording and presentation slides

Abstract

This presentation will summarise the findings of CCRA3 on the economic costs of climate change in the UK, and the costs and benefits of adaptation, as well as follow a follow-up study for Defra on the economics of adaptation.  It will assess how these estimates have changed over time, and the key implications for adaptation policy. The webinar will also present recent work looking at mainstreaming economics into adaptation policy and the differences to the standard adaptation policy cycle. Finally, the talk will cover emerging issues, including the impact of climate change on the public finance, and the scale up of adaptation financing.

Biographies

Paul Watkiss is the Director of Paul Watkiss Associates, a research consultancy specialising in adaptation policy, planning, finance and economics.  He has over 20 years of applied adaptation experience. Paul led the economic assessment for the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment 3 and is currently working on the Defra funded “Economic Case for Climate Change Adaptation’” project, as well as European and international research on the economics of adaptation.

Dr Nigel Miller is Senior Economist and Evidence Lead in the Climate Division, Defra. His role is to lead a team of economists and scientists that support evidence based policy development across Defra’s climate goals. Nigel is an experienced professional economist who has worked in academia, consultancy and in government service, across a number of sectors which include crime and criminal justice, health, and macroeconomics. His expertise is in helping colleagues or clients make a persuasive case for change by establishing the value of what they propose, in particular through use of theoretical models of impact, economic methodologies and review of evidence.