Climate Adaptation Unlocking Value Chains with the Power of Technology 2025

Collaboration platforms provide data, tech and insights to accelerate adaptation FIGURE 11 Source: World Economic Forum and BCG analysis.Unlock & share climate and value chain dataClimate and weather dataSocio-economic & geographic dataSelected value- chain dataHuman-behaviour and social dataPublic and private data sources Earth observationDronesInter net of things (IoT)Scientific & academic resear chOther data sour ces AI foundation models Comprehend the risk Value chain-wide implementation of adaptation use casesBuild resilience e.g. climate & weather modelling, risk analytics, adaptation measur es impact modelling, planetary intelligencee.g. early warning systems, supply chain optimization, infrastructur e & agricultur e resilience, material & molecular design Respond dynamically e.g. post-crisis mapping and damage assessments, crisis decision-making, evacuation & search-and-r escue optimizationData analytics enginesOpen-sour ce applicationsAR/VR visualization enginesInfrastructur e (cloud storage & processing)Standar d data interfaces)Computing power (e.g. quantum computing)Integrate & develop technologies for adaptation Support implementation with shared experience & insights NASA, BCG and Universities Space Research Association developing geospatial AI foundation modelBOX 1 A key example of a collaboration platform comes from NASA, in partnership with BCG and the Universities Space Research Association (USRA). Together, they are developing a geospatial AI foundation model aimed at addressing critical climate adaptation challenges. This initiative high- lights how collaboration across public, private and academic sectors can drive innovation and tackle complex global issues. The system uses data from NASA’s GOES satellite constellation, which has been collecting atmos- pheric, oceanic and climate data since 1975. This data, including top-of-atmosphere thermal brightness (a measure of the infrared radiation, or heat, leaving the Earth’s atmosphere), is pro- cessed by AI to provide insight into the Earth’s energy balance and climate conditions. Trained on over 5 trillion data points gathered every 30 minutes from 18 locations over the last 15 years, the model predicts extreme weather events and real-time insights into climate risks. This model is designed to benefit many value chains by incorporating other datasets including wind speeds and precipitation, making it fit across industries such as aviation safety, where it can optimize flight routes and reduce contrail-induced climate impacts. NASA’s geospatial AI foundation model demonstrates how collaboration platforms can democratize cutting-edge technologies and stimulate better climate adaptation strategies across multiple sectors. Through such partnerships, businesses can leverage AI-powered insights to enhance resilience, protect value chains and contribute to global sustainability efforts. Sources: NASA, BCG analysis.63 Climate Adaptation: Unlocking Value Chains with the Power of Technology 31