Analytics

Indicators & Indices

Using indices to understand complex issues

At Acclimatise, we know the importance of being able to understand complex issues like climate change risks. Indices provide a means of estimating the vulnerability of organisations, populations or infrastructure to climate change. Our indices work by combining socio-economic indicators with climate and hazard data. Our indices follow internationally recognised IPCC definitions and primarily combine the following parts: exposure or presence of receptors that could be adversely affected, the sensitivity or degree to which they could be affected, their adaptive capacity or ability to adjust to damage, and the current and future levels of hazards that they may be exposed to.

Working with us

Climate vulnerability indices allow a picture of climate vulnerability and risk to develop from widely varying data sets with varying units of measurement. We work with our clients to choose non-climatic indicators  according to what matters most to them; each user’s objectives and decision-making needs can be addressed individually, or on a group consensus basis. By agreeing indicators and normalising data sets, a robust method develops enabling the user to make the comparisons that are important for their work. This benefits our clients in being able to quickly prioritise hot spot areas that are in most urgent need of action, and whether climate vulnerabilities exist and need action today, or whether they will occur at some point in the future.

Talk to an expert today: Alastair Baglee, Technical Director.

Showcase: A Climate Vulnerability Index for the city of Guayaquil

Acclimatise and ICare & Consult carried out a vulnerability assessment as part of a project funded by CAF. The overall objective was to identify climate change adaptation measures for the city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, based on a thorough vulnerability analysis containing environmental, economic and social dimensions, as well as a sectoral analysis. The analysis developed a zonal Climate Vulnerability Index for Guayaquil which helped identify its main vulnerability areas and aspects. These include areas with a high risk of flooding and landslide, as well as areas prone to the urban heat island effect. Based on the results of the Climate Vulnerability Diagnosis the team proposed a set of adaptation measures, which include enhancing adaptive capacity, ecosystem-based adaptation measures, and infrastructure measures.

Learn more about the project by clicking here.

Carlos Adampol Galindo/Flickr (CC by SA-2.0)

Indicators & Indices

Our work

Climate vulnerability indicators for the World Bank

For the World Bank, Acclimatise assisted the governments of Armenia, Azerbaijan and Moldova in identifying and mainstreaming the social dimensions of climate change into their adaptation programmes. The project developed country case studies based on bespoke Climate Vulnerability Indices integrating climate and socio-economic data sets and calculated at sub-national level. Country level analysis of the social dimensions of climate change across priority sectors focussed on policy developments (action plans and programmes), institutional frameworks, and specific local and higher-level adaptation strategies.

Acclimatisation Index for CDP

Sponsored by IBM, for the Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) Acclimatise prepared four reports using CDP data on FTSE 350, global oil & gas, energy and mining and metals companies. The reports reviewed and analysed company responses on the risks posed to their business by a changing climate, and the adaptation measures undertaken to safeguard assets and operations. A risk assessment methodology was encapsulated within our proprietary Acclimatisation Index, allowing company responses to be assessed, scored and ranked. Comparisons could then be made on climate risks recognised and the level of adaptation and resilience actions being put in place.