A new online resource, which summarises the implications of climate change for specific sectors of the economy, has been produced and made freely available by the Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership.

The series summarises the likely impacts of climate change on agriculture, buildings, cities, defence, employment, energy, investment, fisheries, primary industries, tourism, and transport. It also looks at the capacity of these sectors to adapt to climate change and to reduce emissions.

The thirteen briefings are based on the Fifth Assessment Report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the official climate science assessment body of the United Nations. They have been compiled by the University of Cambridge Institute for Sustainability Leadership (CISL) and Judge Business School, in partnership with the European Climate Foundation and sector-specific organisations.

Rajendra K Pachauri, Chair of the IPCC，said: “Spelling out the implications of climate change for different sectors, on the basis of the work of the IPCC, will allow businesses to adapt to the challenges they face and understand the role they are able to play in reducing their climate impact.”

Among the findings highlighted and explained in the series are: the particular impact on cities of climate change, and the urgency of acting to protect people in urban areas (predicted to be 64% of the world’s population by 2050); decisions of investors in the private sector and financial institutions will greatly influence the dealing with climate change by the public;the way climate change acts as a ‘threat multiplier’, driving involuntary migration and indirectly increasing the risks of violent conflict.

“Science on climate change is key for the business community, particularly concerning climate scenarios that we will face in the medium and long term,” said álvaro Echániz, Chief Executive Officer of Ferrovial FISA. “Climate change affects us all, and understanding the science is absolutely vital,” said Polly Courtice, LVO, Director of CISL.