Just as the world is heating up, so is the debate about the roles and responsibilities of government and the private sector in identifying climate-related physical risks, and identifying effective strategies for mitigation and adaptation. Climate risk data are widely viewed as a public good. And, public and private demand for that information has been growing rapidly over the last several years. Demand from the private sector is spurred by rapidly increasing pressure toward climate risk disclosure, and a growing interest among sophisticated data consumers to gain competitive advantages through climate risk assessments. The private sector offerings to support that demand have grown rapidly, and as a result there have been criticisms and doubts about the validity and efficacy of private sector-based data to address climate-related physical risks. On the other hand, government-based services often evolve slowly, at a pace that cannot meet the pace of demand for climate risk information.

Effective adaptation, in itself, requires multiple complex steps all built on fundamental climate science and the climate models that support parts of that value chain. The nature and complexity of the problem is so large that it appears obvious that the strengths of both the private sector and government are needed to address it. Authors contributing to peer-reviewed literature and the media have shined a spotlight recently, leveling criticism at both the rise of private sector climate analytics, and the lack of government leadership and oversight.

This session gathers members of government, the private sector, and academia to put these issues front and center, and explore pros and cons of methods and models being used in government and private sectors. A special emphasis is placed on the merits that may be drawn from methods that could combine the strengths of both government and the private sector.

- Indicates paper has been withdrawn from meeting

- Indicates an Award Winner