Integrating climate change adaptation in energy planning and decision-making – Key challenges and opportunities

Energy systems are significantly vulnerable to current climate variability and extreme
events. As climate change becomes more pronounced, the risks and vulnerabilities will
be exacerbated.
To date, energy sector adaptation issues have received very limited attention. In this
paper, a climate risk management framework is used as the basis for identifying key
challenges and opportunities to enhance the integration of climate change adaptation in
energy planning and decision-making. Given its importance for raising awareness and
for stimulating action by planners and decision-makers, emphasis is placed on reviewing
the current knowledge on risks and vulnerabilities of energy systems and on potential
adaptation options.
The paper finds that short and longer term action on climate risk management of energy
systems strongly depends on: Strengthening the capacity to model and project climate
change and its impacts at local and regional scales; improving the geographical coverage
of risk, vulnerability and adaptation assessments, and the availability of systematic and
integrated assessments; and, providing information and guidance in a form appropriate
for planners and decision makers. Another important area concerns establishing
improved understanding of potential trade-offs and synergies between energy system
adaptation and mitigation options, and adaptation and development prospects in other
sectors or areas. Finally, improved knowledge on damage costs, and adaptation costs and
benefits is likely to remove barriers to integration of climate risks and adaptive responses
in energy planning and decision making. Both detailed assessments of the costs and
benefits of integrating adaptation measures and rougher ‘order of magnitude’ estimates
would enhance awareness raising and momentum for action.

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