Adaptation without borders: how understanding indirect impacts could change countries' approach to climate risks

The document introduces the concept of indirect climate change impacts—risks observed in one location but caused by climate events elsewhere—and argues that national adaptation planning must account for global interdependence. It highlights that wealthier nations may be particularly exposed to these indirect risks despite low direct vulnerability. The brief references a text analysis of 25 countries' National Communications to the UNFCCC and a case study of the UK to examine how these impacts are addressed.

• Indirect climate change impacts are defined as effects observed or expected in one location that are caused by climate change or extreme events in a different location, such as a drought in Brazil causing livestock feed prices to increase in Europe.
• Current adaptation efforts primarily focus on national and sub-national risks, but global interdependence means countries face risks originating outside their borders; wealthier nations may be especially exposed to these indirect impacts even if they perceive low direct vulnerability.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2013). Adaptation without borders: how understanding indirect impacts could change countries' approach to climate risks. https://www.sei.org/publications/adaptation-without-borders-how-understanding-indirect-impacts-could-change-countries-approach-to-climate-risks/

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Adaptation without borders: how understanding indirect impacts could change countries' approach to climate risks. 2013. https://www.sei.org/publications/adaptation-without-borders-how-understanding-indirect-impacts-could-change-countries-approach-to-climate-risks/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Adaptation without borders: how understanding indirect impacts could change countries' approach to climate risks |date=6 November 2013 |url=https://www.sei.org/publications/adaptation-without-borders-how-understanding-indirect-impacts-could-change-countries-approach-to-climate-risks/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2013adaptation, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Adaptation without borders: how understanding indirect impacts could change countries' approach to climate risks}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2013}, month = nov, url = {https://www.sei.org/publications/adaptation-without-borders-how-understanding-indirect-impacts-could-change-countries-approach-to-climate-risks/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }