• Climate Change

Catalonia’s Global Indicator on Adaptation: A Tool for Inclusive and Resilient Climate Action that leaves no one behind

Catalonia continues to lead the way in climate adaptation, refining its strategies to meet the growing challenges posed by climate change. At the heart of this effort is the Global Indicator on Adaptation (IGA) – a robust tool designed to assess the region’s resilience and the impact of its policies. First introduced in 2014, the IGA has evolved significantly over the past decade, serving both as a monitoring framework and a guide for action.

Evolving to meet new challenges

In line with the Catalan Strategy for Adaptation –– a strategic framework for tackling the climate crisis through 2030 – the government conducts an analysis every 4-5 years to evaluate Catalonia’s progress in strengthening adaptation and resilience.

In its first version, the IGA consisted of 29 indicators with the goal of assessing how adaptation actions reduced vulnerability to climate impacts. By 2019, this expanded to 42 indicators, incorporating a broader dataset and longer time series analysis to improve reliability. Now, as part of the Catalan Strategy for Adaptation to Climate Change 2021-2030 (ESCACC30), the IGA has undergone its most significant update yet growing to include 74 indicators.

This latest 2024 update reflects Catalonia’s commitment to continuous improvement and innovation in adaptation metrics. The updated IGA captures a more nuanced and complete understanding of resilience by integrating new methodologies and addressing a wider range of vulnerabilities to climate change.

Breaking ground with climate justice indicators

For the first time, climate justice indicators have been included in Catalonia’s Adaptation, marking a significant step forward. Recognizing that climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable populations, the Strategy now integrates measures to assess equity and fairness in adaptation efforts, ensuring a more inclusive and just approach to climate resilience.

By embedding climate justice into the IGA, Catalonia shows its commitment to addressing both the technical and ethical dimensions of adaptation. Rising temperatures, extreme weather events, and resource scarcity disproportionately affect marginalized groups, increasing existing inequalities. These vulnerable groups include women, young people, children, the elderly, people with illnesses, undocumented migrants, and those living in poverty.

For the first time, the IGA 2024 includes a dedicated set of indicators to measure climate justice, evaluating the resilience not only of companies, economic sectors, and biodiversity but also of citizens.

These indicators are grounded in human rights principles, such as the rights to water and sanitation, health, energy, and housing. For each of these rights, one to five relevant indicators have been selected.

Examples include:

• Right to Housing: Measuring the percentage of income spent on rent to understand housing affordability.
• Right to Energy: Evaluating the number of households unable to maintain adequate indoor temperatures during heat waves or cold spells.
• Right to Health: Analyzing the ratio of healthcare professionals to population and the availability of social services to support those affected by climate-induced health stressors.
• Poverty Levels: Assessing the proportion of the population living in poverty to address socio-economic disparities exacerbated by climate impacts.

The new indicators also focus on the ethical dimensions of adaptation, ensuring that measures address not just environmental vulnerabilities but also social inequalities.

Setting a global example

By integrating climate justice into its adaptation framework, Catalonia sends a powerful message: resilience is not just a technical challenge but a shared responsibility. This innovative approach shows how monitoring tools like the IGA can guide and shape policies that are inclusive and equitable, building resilience that leaves no community behind – especially the most vulnerable.

As climate challenges increase, Catalonia provides a valuable model for regions worldwide. It shows that addressing climate change is not only about reducing risks but also about upholding human rights, ensuring fairness, and creating a future where no one is left behind.

The 2024 update of the IGA is a powerful reminder that adaptation is not a privilege – it is a shared responsibility and a universal right.

More information:

>> INDICADOR GLOBAL D’ADAPTACIÓ ALS IMPACTES DEL CANVI CLIMÀTIC A CATALUNYA

>> Catalan Strategy for Adapting to Climate Change 2021-2030