Safeguarding NDC Implementation: Building resilience into energy systems

This briefing by the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) argues that integrating climate-related risk assessments into the planning of energy infrastructure is essential for safeguarding Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) implementation. It details how physical climate stressors threaten various energy generation sources and provides a framework for building resilience through robustness, resourcefulness, and recovery, while emphasizing that such measures are critical for project bankability and attracting private investment.

• Climate change poses significant risks to energy infrastructure, as traditional design standards based on historical data may lead to failures, reduced asset life expectancy, higher operating costs, and delivery disruptions.
• Integrating climate risk assessments during the planning phase is critical for the 'bankability' of energy projects, as investors and lenders require confidence in the risk profile to provide capital.
• Different energy generation sources are affected by specific climate stressors: warming trends can reduce solar PV cell efficiency and thermal plant efficiency; precipitation changes can affect hydro power runoff; cyclones can damage wind and thermal infrastructure; and sea-level rise threatens off-shore and coastal stations.
• Resilience in energy systems is categorized by the 'three Rs': Robustness (ability to survive impacts), Resourcefulness (ability to manage and operate during events), and Recovery (ability to return to full operation after a disturbance).
• Building resilience can support climate mitigation by diversifying energy supplies through renewables and replacing aging infrastructure with decentralized systems, which reduces both GHG emissions and the risk of widespread power outages.
• The document identifies four primary strategies for managing climate risks: climate vulnerability risk assessments (including tools like SAVi), technological 'hard' solutions (e.g., higher building standards), green infrastructure (natural areas for stormwater and cooling), and behavioural strategies (e.g., early warning systems and relocation).
• Financial strategies to mitigate climate risk include expanded insurance requirements, larger debt service reserve accounts, maintenance reserves, and the use of risk transfer instruments like catastrophe bonds.

APA

Rooban, A., & Terton, A. (2018). Safeguarding NDC Implementation: Building resilience into energy systems. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/safeguarding-ndc-implementation.pdf

Chicago

Rooban, Anne, and Anika Terton. Safeguarding NDC Implementation: Building resilience into energy systems. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2018. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/safeguarding-ndc-implementation.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Rooban |first1=Anne |last2=Terton |first2=Anika |title=Safeguarding NDC Implementation: Building resilience into energy systems |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=September 2018 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/safeguarding-ndc-implementation.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{rooban2018safeguarding, author = {Rooban, Anne and Terton, Anika}, title = {{Safeguarding NDC Implementation: Building resilience into energy systems}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2018}, month = sep, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/publications/safeguarding-ndc-implementation.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }