Transmission of climate risks across sectors and borders

Philosophical Transactions A (2018)

Here, we define new approaches to systemic climate risk assessment that can account for transboundary and trans-sector risk transmission, by presenting: a typology of risk transmission that distinguishes clearly the role of climate versus social and economic systems that distribute resources; a review of existing modelling, qualitative and systems-based methods of assessing risk and risk transmission; and case studies that examine risk transmission in human displacement, food, water and energy security.

The case studies show that policies and institutions can attenuate risks significantly through cooperation that can be mutually beneficial to all parties. We present suggestions for assessment of complex risk transmission mechanisms.