The Opportunity Mapping tool is developed by UNEP / GRID-Geneva, with support from the European Commission, Norway and SIDA.

Target audience

• Decision-makers and practitioners in governments and public agencies
• Private sector and development organisations engaged in environmental, infrastructure or risk planning
• Analysts, spatial planners and climate / disaster risk experts

How it can help finance professionals

• It offers a spatial screening tool to locate regions where ecosystem protection or restoration can reduce hazard exposure and benefit many people.
• It helps prioritise nature-based investments by linking ecosystem services with risk reduction potential (e.g. mangroves reducing storm surge, forests reducing landslide susceptibility).
• It supports early screening of investment regions, enabling better alignment of climate adaptation and resilience funding.
• It provides downloadable spatial datasets and summary metrics to inform financial risk assessments, project appraisals or blended finance proposals.

Limitations to note

• It uses a coarse grid (~ 100 km² cells) and global data; local planning requires higher resolution and field validation.
• It does not account for feasibility or land-use constraints (e.g. built-up areas).

In sum, for finance professionals seeking to integrate resilience and nature-based solutions, this tool is a useful screening and prioritisation resource, not a substitute for local due diligence.