Who pays for climate adaptation?

Some of the nuts and bolts of climate adaptation were discussed today at Adaptation Futures 2025, including finance, infrastructure and insurance.

Dr David Dodman says it’s a challenging equation which is why it is so important people come together and plan for the future. 

Speaking at day two of Adaptation Futures 2025 - the world’s premier climate adaptation event in Ōtautahi Christchurch - the General Director of the Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS) at Erasmus University Rotterdam said small upgrades to housing and communities in low-income cities are already being paid for by people themselves.

“Because urban areas are so interconnected, it can be difficult to identify the specific climate adaptation element that should be paid for by global climate funds,” he said. 

For example, upgrading water, sanitation, and energy infrastructure are often not seen as adaptation but general urban development. “There’s going to need to be multiple ways of paying but at the moment there’s a sticking point that some of the existing channels for financing adaptation don’t work because of the interconnected nature of cities.”

David has more than 20 years’ experience working on sustainable urban development 

research in universities and research institutes. He has been a Coordinating Lead Author in the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), has played a leading role in international and collaborative research programmes, and has advised a wide range of governments and international organisations. His research interests focus on urban climate change resilience and informality. 

“We know that more than half of the world’s population lives in cities,” David said. “If you have inadequate housing, a lack of proper water and sanitation, and you don’t have a decent job, all of these things will make it harder for you to cope with climate change. The focus of Adaptation Futures 2025 is on what we can and should be doing. We also need to make sure that we adapt in a way that recognises prolonged injustice and inequity to make sure burdens aren’t put on people who have been marginalised.”

Also speaking today was Lincoln University Applied Economist Professor Anita Wreford, whose work supports the primary sector to adapt to a changing climate and handle uncertainty in the future. 

“For me being based in New Zealand, this conference is a fantastic opportunity to connect with international colleagues from around the world, to share ideas and learn from what other people and regions are doing,” she said. 

“As a researcher, it’s an opportunity to connect with potentially international collaborators so that we can access international research funding because we have very little investment in climate change adaptation research in New Zealand right now. My hope is that we can move beyond talking about what we can do to actually implementing some of these changes.”

Professor Wreford has been an author on two Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reports and works closely with national and local government policy makers in the UK and New Zealand providing advice and analysis for climate adaptation decisions.

Yesterday’s AF2025 opening event saw world-leading experts demand climate adaptation action in preparation for COP30. 

The 2025 conference is co-hosted by the United Nations World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP) and Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury. It is supported by government agencies, national and international research organisations and businesses, and foundation sponsor, the Adaptation Fund. 

Members of the public are invited to attend events being held across Ōtautahi Christchurch this week as part of the Art of Climate Conversation, sponsored by Beca. These include artists and scientists in conversation, exhibition tours, workshops, and a multimedia performance, Ka Tiri o te Moana, choreographed by Louise Pōtiki Bryant, by Atamira Dance Company on Thursday.