Forewords

The G20 Climate Risk Atlas is the contribution of the CMCC Foundation – Euro-Mediterranean Centre on Climate Change to ensuring attentive and well-informed climate action. Our scientific community responded to the European Climate Foundation’s proposal with the preparation of a summary document based on the most advanced scientific knowledge available on climate change and associated risks for the G20 countries, which represent the world’s largest economies and account for over 80% of global GDP.

For each of the 20 countries, Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Republic of Korea, Mexico, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the European Union, the Atlas includes an overview of the impacts, risks, and interactions with climate change that are expected by the middle and end of the century. These are assessed at the national level, under different degrees of warming and development models, with an in-depth analysis of key sectors of the G20 economies. 

The 11 Climate Risk Atlas factsheets shed light on the risks faced by each country, using a clear and functional structure, with novel communication of climate risks at different levels and for different audiences. For this purpose each country/sector factsheet is designed with a mix of infographics, maps and short narrative descriptions related to relevant climate-driven hazards and key affected sectors, namely: Climate, Ocean, Coasts, Water, Agriculture, Forests and Fires, Urban, Health, Energy, Economic Impact, and Policy. 

The G20 Climate Risk Atlas provides a comprehensive picture of the historical trends and future changes in climate, using available literature and data, and consolidating country-specific information within a homogenous and flexible structure. The information reported derives from enhanced intercomparison modelling exercises, data analysis, the use of indicators (such as those developed by Enel Foundation), and surveys of the most recent scientific literature, including published peer-reviewed papers, technical reports, and open access material from Horizon 2020 projects. Although the methodologies used by different studies are highly heterogeneous, ranging from modelling comparison to statistical analysis, a significant effort was made to harmonize these findings and present them within an internally consistent framework. 

We believe that robust scientific knowledge must be available at an institutional and governance level to guarantee social and environmental resilience. Therefore, the G20 Climate Risk Atlas represents a science-based tool that can support decision-making processes and the planning of required policies. However, the simple language, attractive features and design also ensure that the Atlas lends itself to easy consultation and dissemination, therefore opening the door, not only to decision-makers and stakeholders but also to the general public, creating a participatory and iterative process that can be used to increase public awareness on climate issues.

The Atlas will be published when the G20 country representatives are meeting in Italy. We trust that in the process of a sustainable transition, climate change will be considered the fundamental pillar of the political agenda. Only committed and timely mitigation and adaptation actions can limit the intensification of extreme events, the destruction of ecosystems, infrastructure and populations, and in the process enable people to benefit from a better and more equitable future. This is everyone’s responsibility.

Our scientific community will continue to work hard to increase knowledge, develop new scientific findings, and improve accessibility and communication of results to help build aware and informed communities.

With this goal in mind and the intention of creating wider interest and understanding in climate issues, we entrust the G20 Atlas to your reading.

© Giacomo Cosua / Greenpeace