Informing Adaptation

This research paper by Diana Liverman identifies the critical types of information required for climate change adaptation decision-making, emphasizing a user-centered approach to information delivery. It argues that effective adaptation requires a combination of basic climate data, economic cost-benefit analyses, vulnerability assessments, and knowledge of best practices, all integrated into an iterative risk management process.

• Effective adaptation decision-making requires four primary types of information: basic climate data, the economic costs and benefits of adaptation, available adaptation options and best practices, and public perceptions of climate change risks.
• Vulnerability information is essential for effective responses because climate impacts depend as much on vulnerability as they do on temperature or precipitation changes. Such information should be dynamic to reflect rapid changes caused by conflicts or economic crises.
• The process of adaptation is described as 'iterative risk management,' which involves a continuous cycle of identifying risks, appraising options, making decisions, monitoring results, and adjusting those decisions based on new knowledge or emerging conditions.
• There are significant challenges in providing basic climate information, including geographic gaps in observation networks (particularly in the developing world), disagreements between major climate models regarding regional and local scales, and difficulties in scaling global models down to local landscapes.
• Economic estimates for adaptation are characterized by high uncertainty and varying assumptions. For example, some estimates suggested adaptation costs could exceed $150 billion annually, which influenced the goal of providing $100 billion a year by 2020 for climate response.
• Information systems for adaptation must move away from scientist-led delivery toward user-centered models. This includes using 'boundary organizations'—such as NGOs, consultants, and local universities—to translate technical data into locally relevant information.
• Inequitable access to climate information can exacerbate social and economic inequalities. For instance, those with advance harvest failure forecasts can speculate on commodity futures to the detriment of producers and consumers.

APA

Liverman, D. (2010). Informing Adaptation. World Resources Institute. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-6-response-5.pdf

Chicago

Liverman, Diana. Informing Adaptation. World Resources Institute, 2010. https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-6-response-5.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Liverman |first1=Diana |title=Informing Adaptation |publisher=World Resources Institute |date=2010 |url=https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-6-response-5.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{liverman2010informing, author = {Liverman, Diana}, title = {{Informing Adaptation}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, year = {2010}, url = {https://files.wri.org/d8/s3fs-public/2023-02/wrr-2010-11-question-6-response-5.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }