How to Map the Costs of Inaction?

Abstract

Climate risk assessment estimates the risk of physical climate hazards, and it is increasingly relevant for stakeholders involved in Dutch urban climate governance where floods, heat and drought are becoming more frequent and severe. However, its future role in climate governance and stakeholders' information needs. While previous research analyzed the role of technical tools in decision-making for climate adaptation, it does not identify the needs of the involved stakeholders. This research aims to contribute towards more effective and rapid implementation of urban climate adaptation measures in the Netherlands by identifying the role of climate risk assessment in the climate governance arena of Amsterdam as the case study. This is done by producing risk maps of Amsterdam’s Watergraafsmeer area as sample and using them in eleven semi-structured interviews with advisory, financial and municipal stakeholders. Preference was found for methods that estimate the financial implications of hazards at the neighborhood scale because it supports the identification of risk hotspots, understanding the costs of inaction, and accelerating the implementation of adaptation measures. These findings enhance the understanding of stakeholder information needs in Dutch climate governance arenas and support further development of risk assessment tools that estimate the financial consequences of physical climate hazards.