Conventional approaches to indicators and metrics undermine urban climate adaptation
Measurement is essential for effective adaptation management and operation, and indicators and metrics (I&M) have a pivotal role. Surprisingly, systematic efforts to assess advances in the provision of adaptation I&M are scarce, and those that do exist often lack in-depth analysis of the types, characteristics, and applicability of the collected information. Here, we analyse 137 publications and 901 I&M sourced in the scientific literature (2007-2022) to measure adaptation to climate change in urban areas where governments are increasingly placing efforts to prepare populations and infrastructures. A lack of common terminology, standardisation, and guidelines has resulted in a field that is complex to track and understand. This complexity has led to a fragmented methodological landscape, marked by diverse, context-dependent, and occasionally conflicting approaches to the development of I&M. We argue that conventional approaches to I&M are largely inadequate and must better emphasise quantifiability, long-term assessment, and alignment with policy objectives.
Authors
- Ayyoob Sharifi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8983-8613)
- Massimiliano Granceri Bradaschia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4776-3745)
- Prince Dacosta Aboagye (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0310-8610)
- Laura Helmke‐Long (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3985-7752)
- Ane Villaverde (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6528-9552)
- Ellie Murtagh
- Borja Izaola (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9515-2052)
- Marta Olazabal (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3381-0654)
- Patricia Mwangi
- Andressa V. Mansur (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4104-3085)
- Obed Asamoah (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1830-5067)
- Samraj Sahay (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4086-0411)
- Ira Feldman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7301-5519)
- William P. Lewis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0006-7730-3386)
- Leire Garmendia (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3363-1015)
Institutions
- Ikerbasque (ES)
- Hiroshima University (JP)
- Università Iuav di Venezia (IT)
- Kenyatta University (KE)
- University of the Basque Country (ES)
- British Red Cross (GB)
- Basque Centre for Climate Change (ES)
- Indiana University Bloomington (US)
- Quebec Rehabilitation Research Network (CA)
- Ipsos (United Kingdom) (GB)
- Lebanese American University (LB)
- Nagoya University (JP)
Publication Details
- Journal
- npj Urban Sustainability
- Published
- 2025-12-14
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-025-00310-z
- Citations
- 1
- Primary Topic
- Climate Change, Adaptation, Migration
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 4.20
Funders
- Ministerio de Ciencia, Innovación y Universidades
- European Commission
- Eusko Jaurlaritza
- Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
- Agencia Estatal de Investigación
- European Social Fund