Digitalization and Climate Change Adaptation in China

Abstract

The effects of climate change are increasingly transforming natural environments, threatening human living and socioeconomic developments. While mitigation action remains a priority, government efforts must also focus on helping people adapt to today’s climate impacts. Emerging digital technologies, which provide more efficient, rapid, and reliable risk monitoring and forecasting and enable better decision-making, can play a critical role to this end. This study develops policy recommendations for the utilization of digital tools to enhance climate change adaptation in China. This article first identifies China’s primary climate change adaptation challenges, followed by an examination of successful digital solutions from countries outside of China. Successful application cases include using advanced machine learning models to develop more accurate rainfall predictions and applying digital twin systems to manage urban sewers in real time. These solutions are then evaluated in the Chinese context, leading to the formation of policy recommendations to advance similar initiatives.