The OpenCLIM project is designed to support UK assessment of climate risks and adaptation, including future Climate Change Risk Assessments and National Adaptation Programmes, by developing and applying an integrated assessment model.
Project scope
Climate change manifests in multiple ways and impacts every human and natural system, making consistent risk assessments challenging. Further, there are direct and indirect impacts as these effects cascade and interact with other sectors and other non-climate processes. Consequently, adaptation assessments also need to consider both direct and indirect effects and unintended consequences. This has proved challenging in earlier assessments.
The OpenCLIM project will develop and apply a first UK integrated assessment for climate impacts and adaptation. The innovative and flexible model developed by the project will consider UK-wide climate impacts and adaptation in biodiversity, agriculture, infrastructure and urban areas, considering the impacts of flooding, heat stress and changing temperature and precipitation.
The project will also consider two detailed case studies: an urban analysis of Glasgow and the Clyde, and a more rural analysis of the Norfolk Broads. The case studies will demonstrate application of the model to inform the national analysis.
Legacy
OpenCLIM will also design an open-access platform to allow further development of the integrated model beyond the funding period. The objective will be to develop a community model where new and improved versions could be easily incorporated and innovative science and new policy questions investigated. As such, future risk and adaptation assessments, including the Climate Change Risk Assessments and the National Adaptation Programme, could be linked to a living science process, drawing on evolving understanding and stakeholder needs. This would include improving knowledge in established sectors and areas, and developing better sectoral linkages and interactions, as well as adding new models of less established sectors and areas as they emerge, including the ability to reframe and pose new questions.
Publications
A T Kennedy-Asser, G Owen, G J Griffith et al (2022). Projected risks associated with heat stress in the UK Climate Projections (UKCP18). Environmental Research Letters. 17 034024
K Jenkins, A Ford, C Robson et al (2022). Identifying adaptation ‘on the ground’: Development of a UK adaptation Inventory. Climate Risk Management. 36 100430
Outputs
An online version of the UK Adaptation Inventory is now available.
Further reading
The future of climate change risk assessment is just about to come a lot closer
UKRI projects worth £3.5m announced for SPF UK Climate Resilience Programme
Further information
For more information, or to engage with OpenCLIM, contact Asher Minns A.Minns@uea.ac.uk