Mapping adaptation opportunities and activities in an interactive atlas

Area of Science:

• Climate Science
• Environmental Policy
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Background:

• Increasing demand for transparency in international climate finance, particularly for adaptation efforts in developing nations.
• Need for accessible, verifiable spatial data to support local practitioners in climate adaptation.
• Challenges in tracking financial flows and assessing the efficacy of adaptation investments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the Global Adaptation Atlas as a tool for improving transparency in climate adaptation.
• To describe the structure and functions of the Global Adaptation Atlas.
• To explain how the Atlas can be used for tracking adaptation investments and evaluating their effectiveness.

Main Methods:

• Integration of vetted, publicly available climate impact data.
• Inclusion of timely maps detailing on-the-ground adaptation projects.
• Development of a platform to visualize and analyze the intersection of climate effects and adaptation actions.

Main Results:

• The Global Adaptation Atlas provides a unified view of climate change effects and adaptation activities.
• The tool facilitates the tracking of short-term adaptation investments.
• The Atlas offers potential for evaluating long-term investment effectiveness and regional impact variations.

Conclusions:

• The Global Adaptation Atlas is a valuable resource for enhancing transparency and accountability in climate adaptation finance.
• The tool can support evidence-based decision-making for adaptation strategies.
• Long-term use of the Atlas may reveal crucial insights into regional adaptation needs and investment impacts.