This module leads participants through the climate risk assessment process and equips them with the knowledge and skills required to design a climate risk assessment. It distinguishes between highly technical assessments requiring bespoke modelling of climate change and its impacts, and assessments based on a combination of readily available information and participatory approaches. Participants will learn how to undertake the latter and will understand some of the complexities and limitations of the former.

Key questions addressed in this module include:

• What is the difference between a climate risk and vulnerability assessment?
• How is a climate risk assessment structured and how can we use risk frameworks?
• Who should be involved in a climate risk assessment?
• How detailed should an assessment be and how much technical expertise is needed?
• Does a climate risk assessment require detailed data from climate models and projections?
• How can we combine/balance scientific information and local knowledge/perspectives?
• How can we address uncertainty in climate risk assessments?
• What do we do in low capacity and data scarce environments?
• What happens once a climate risk assessment has been completed?

This module consists of two sessions and one exercise, with around 60-90 minutes allocated for each, depending on the level of tailoring for specific audiences. It is the third of five modules in our Adapting to Climate Change Course. For more detail on the content of this and other modules, download the course outline (pdf).