Users’ awareness and expectations from the climate change adaptation digital twin

Abstract

Several digital twins of the climate (climate DTs) have emerged around the world, primarily developed by private companies as well as large scientific and governmental organisations. Despite being in early development stages, they operationalise the on-demand production of climate information for adaptation. Although climate DTs will certainly be catalysts for unprecedented scientific and technological innovation, considering human aspects is indispensable to achieve societal uptake. Through participatory activities including an online survey, interviews and participant observation, we assess the perspectives of some potential users of the digital twins, in particular adaptation researchers and practitioners who use or could use climate information for adaptation. Results show that participants in our research are familiar with the digital twin concept but generally poorly informed about the DTs for climate adaptation. Participants’ expectations from the climate DTs include the simulation of different climate change adaptation options at scales where impacts are felt, the possibility to run on-demand model simulations and the benefits provided by higher model resolution, whereas the lack of guidance on how to use the information from the DTs and deal with uncertainties are the main challenges. Although moving towards the democratisation of climate DTs will empower users, it requires a clear roadmap for aspects related to governance, early communication, stakeholder engagement and dissemination of the DT results. Here we provide recommendations to bring the DTs closer to different target groups, making its outcomes more accessible and transparent for all.