Compound risk refers to the combined impact of multiple climate hazards occurring together or in sequence, such as heatwaves followed by drought, or storms during coastal flooding.
A coastal town may face back-to-back events: heavy rainfall combined with high tides and storm surges. This compound risk increases damage and complicates response planning.
Compound risks are harder to predict but more damaging. Accounting for them is essential for resilience planning and investment in critical infrastructure.