This paper aims to inform energy planners and investors about i) how climate change can affect power generation resources, particularly hydropower resources; and ii) an approach that can be taken to address climate change risks, both at the project and sector level, to improve power system resilience and enhance energy security.
To help address this challenge, this paper outlines a four-step approach for integrating climate resilience approaches into power planning by iteratively identifying and managing climate risks to better ensure long-term energy security and sustainability. These steps involve: (1) assessment of climate risks and vulnerabilities; (2) identification, evaluation, and prioritization of options to address climate risks; (3) integration of climate change considerations into project implementation, power planning, and operations and maintenance; and (4) monitoring, evaluating, and adjusting plans over time. The paper provides key resources to help planners and investors undertake these steps. The paper also emphasises that detailed local assessments, as well as explicit consideration of tradeoffs associated with different investment alternatives, are critical to providing a greater understanding of climate vulnerabilities and identifying feasible planning and management measures.