Effective preparation for climate change impacts necessitates the proactive integration of scientifically robust climate information into decision-making processes across both the private and public sector. Companies are increasingly confronted with regulatory requirements for non-financial reporting, including scenario-based risk assessments aligned with the EU Taxonomy Regulation. Simultaneously, public institutions – such as counties and municipalities in Germany – are mandated to develop climate adaptation strategies under the Federal Climate Adaptation Act (KAnG), which must be based on the results of climate projections for the near and far future. In response to these evolving demands, the Climate Service Center Germany (GERICS) has developed the GERICS Process Model for Companies, a prototypical climate service product designed to enable decision makers to embed projected future climate conditions into adaptation management. This prototypical model was co-developed through an inter- and transdisciplinary process, emphasizing practical applicability and stakeholder engagement via structured interviews and participatory workshops. The model consists of eight interconnected phases: i. stocktaking, ii. classification, iii. identification, iv. supplying information, v. capability, vi. derivation and implementation of measures, vii. evaluation, and viii. process solidification. It serves as a bridge between scientific climate data and operational decision-making, promoting cross-organizational thinking and supporting both mitigation and adaptation strategies. Based upon successful collaborations with private sector actors, the next step of the prototypical development involves adapting and scaling the model for application within public sector organizations at the municipal and county level. This expansion aims to align with the requirements of the KAnG and to support the development of robust, evidence-based climate adaptation strategies for communities as well as companies connected to these areas.
Groth et al. (Thu,) studied this question.