Insights from the TerraDT Urban Impact Model Workshop: user perspectives for urban climate change adaptation

The report summarises key insights from the TerraDT Urban Impact Workshop, which brought together scientists and end-users to explore how high-resolution climate digital twins can support urban climate adaptation. It highlights TerraDT’s role in advancing kilometre-scale modelling and developing impact models that translate climate data into actionable insights for cities.

A central finding is that technical innovation alone is not sufficient for adoption. Effective use of digital twins depends on trust, usability, transparency, and long-term accessibility, alongside clear guidance on how data informs real decisions. Users require tailored, high-resolution outputs that integrate with existing workflows and address practical challenges such as heat stress, flooding, and urban planning constraints.

The workshop also emphasised the importance of early and continuous user engagement, co-development of solutions, and better integration of climate data into policy processes. Barriers such as institutional silos, risk-averse decision-making, and limited understanding of climate data must be addressed. Overall, the report concludes that successful urban climate services rely as much on social, institutional, and communication factors as on scientific excellence.