Planning for the impacts of climate change is a complex issue. Solutions can only be driven through informed decision-making and to date there is little evidence to suggest that this is occurring in any meaningful way in most of the cities around the world. For local and city governments managing climate change is complex and fraught with challenges associated with resource constraints, community buy-in, legal risks and political positioning. Overcoming these challenges requires and adaptation governance approach.

This paper presents an innovative adaptation governance assessment tool, with empirical results from over 50 cities accross four Australian States.  Drawing on "big data" information analytics the climate change adaptation governance tool presented in this paper is about the core system that supports  adaptation actions. It includes institutional arrangements, resource allocation, executive and interdepartmental support, inclusion in strategic planning, financial planning and any other activity that will enable climate change adaptation to be mainstreamed into a city council’s activities. The paper shows how information analytics can inform re-insurance and other risk management systems.

The process allows decision makers at the municipal level to take stock of where they are at in regards to climate change adaptation and compare and contrast via a range of filters. Think of the process similar to climate change adaptation genomics.  Like genomics in the sciences the process created by Burton allows the organisation to identify areas that may experience future shocks, identify markers that require modification and help local governments and organisations transition towards mainstreaming adaptation.