Cerac - Climate Risk Assessment Center

What Cerac - Climate Risk Assessment Center does

CERAC (Climate Risk Assessment Center) is a Belgian federal public institution headquartered in Brussels that conducts integrated climate and environmental risk assessments for Belgium and advises federal, regional, and local policymakers on adaptation and resilience strategies. It operates under the Federal Public Service (FPS) Health, Food Chain Safety and Environment and was effectively established in the early 2020s following the 2021 Vesdre Valley floods, which caused approximately \u20ac5.2 billion in damages, 39 deaths, and 16,000 displaced persons. Its core product is the Belgian Climate Risk Assessment (BCRA), which analyzes 28 major climate and environmental risks across seven domains (ecosystems, food, infrastructure and buildings, health and well-being, economy and finance, security, and social issues), evaluated against +2\u00b0C, +3\u00b0C, and +4\u00b0C warming scenarios using a methodology aligned with the European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) framework developed by the European Environment Agency.

The supporting portfolio includes the Planetary Boundaries Assessment for Belgium (downscaling nine planetary boundaries to national scale in partnership with Climact, CEESE/ULB, and Ramboll), the Macro-Fiscal Cost Assessment with the Federal Planning Bureau, the Status and Trends of Biodiversity Loss Analysis with the National Geographic Institute, and the Local Climate Risk Preparedness Report covering municipalities. Active research projects include CHaRM-BE (a three-year compound health risk study launched March 2026 with KU Leuven, Sciensano, I-BioStat/Hasselt, VUB, ULi\u00e8ge, and UGent, funded by BELSPO's Science4Policy programme), BelFires and the forthcoming Fire4BE wildfire research with UGent and ULi\u00e8ge, and Tales of Future Weather, a science-communication project with KMI/RMI and the Belgian Climate Centre. CERAC also maintains a formal inter-university programme with all ten Belgian universities, anchored by an annual planetary boundaries conference (2026 edition at UAntwerpen, focused on drought).

CERAC has no commercial revenue model: all publications, reports, risk syntheses, and assessments are distributed free of charge through cerac.be in Dutch, French, and German, and the institution is funded through the Belgian federal budget and programme-specific public grants. The organization is led by Director Luc Bas (Belgium's first Chief Planetary Officer via the Chief Planetary Scientist Network launched with Planetary Guardians and the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in June 2026) and Deputy Director Karim Sheikh Hassan, supported by a nine-person expert team covering security, health, social, economic, bioscience, and BCRA coordination. Technology use is centered on data aggregation, scenario modeling via partner universities, and science communication rather than proprietary AI/ML platforms or commercial software products.

Name

Cerac - Climate Risk Assessment Center

Legal name

Climate Risk Assessment Center (CERAC)

Website

https://cerac.be

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

CERAC is a Belgian federal public institution headquartered in Brussels that produces the Belgian Climate Risk Assessment and related climate and environmental risk studies, advising federal, regional, and municipal policymakers on adaptation and resilience strategies at no cost.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Climate Risk Advisory Services

NAICS

Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (924), Administration of Conservation Programs (92412), Administration of Environmental Quality Programs (9241), Environmental Consulting Services (541620), Administration of Air and Water Resource and Solid Waste Management Programs (924110)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731)

akta.pro primary industry

Environmental Policy, Planning & Regulation (BPAIAMAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Environmental, Climate & Sustainability Standards & Reporting Cooperation (BPADANAI), Environmental Protection Agencies & Environmental Health Departments (HLAJAFAA), Climate Risk Data & Benchmarking Services (Hazard Layers, Loss Databases, Indices/Scorecards) (EUABALAL), Climate Risk & Scenario Analysis (TCFD/IFRS S2) (EUAHAJAD)

Keywords

• Climate risk assessment
• Environmental policy advisory
• Planetary boundaries research
• Climate resilience planning
• Public sector research

Headquarters

HQ city

Brussels

HQ country

Belgium

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CERAC assesses climate and environmental risks in Belgium and produces the Belgian Climate Risk Assessment (BCRA) covering 28 major risks across domains such as ecosystems, food, infrastructure and buildings, health and well-being, economy and finance, security, and social issues. It advises Belgian federal, regional, and local government policymakers with evidence-based recommendations for climate adaptation and resilience, and operates as the central coordinating body translating planetary boundaries science into national policy.

Product overview

Cerac (Climate Risk Assessment Center) is a Belgian federal research center that produces climate and environmental risk assessments and advises policymakers. The core offering is the Belgian Climate Risk Assessment (BCRA), which identifies and analyzes 28 major climate risks across seven domains (ecosystems, food, infrastructure, health, economy, security, social issues). Supporting products include the Planetary Boundaries Assessment, macro-fiscal costs analysis, biodiversity loss assessments, and municipality preparedness reports. The organization also conducts specialized research projects like CHaRM-BE on compound health risks and produces communication tools like Tales of Future Weather. The portfolio operates as a research and policy advisory service rather than a commercial software product.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Belgian Climate Risk Assessment (BCRA) The main climate risk assessment framework identifying and analyzing 28 major climate and environmental risks for Belgium across economy, health and well-being, food, ecosystems, and infrastructure and buildings. Evaluates risks by warming scenario, confidence level, and policy preparedness. Targeted at Belgian federal, regional, and local policymakers.
• BCRA Risk Syntheses and Detailed Analyses Risk-specific syntheses and detailed analytical reports covering individual BCRA risk categories including ecosystems, food, infrastructure and buildings, health and well-being, economy and finance, security, and social issues.
• Planetary Boundaries Assessment for Belgium A study downscaling the global planetary boundaries framework to Belgium, evaluating nine planetary boundaries including climate change, biodiversity, chemicals and plastics, nitrogen and phosphorus, land use change, freshwater, ocean acidification, aerosols, and ozone. Includes phase 1 (ecological footprint) and phase 2 (social impact) components.
• Macro-Fiscal Costs Assessment A partnership report with the Federal Planning Bureau estimating the future costs of climate change for Belgian public finances, examining both chronic risks from gradual temperature and precipitation changes and acute risks from natural disasters.
• Local Climate Risk Preparedness Report Assessment of Belgian municipalities' preparedness levels for three key climate risks: heat, drought, and flooding. Analyzes existing actions, identifies barriers to climate adaptation, and provides recommendations for strengthening local government response.
• Biodiversity Loss Status and Trends Analysis Analysis conducted with the National Geographic Institute examining the status and trends of biodiversity loss in Belgium across all regions (Flanders, Wallonia, Brussels) and the Belgian part of the North Sea, based on scientific literature from 2018-2024.
• Tales of Future Weather A project presenting plausible future weather scenarios as fictional news stories to make climate projections more accessible to the general public. First cycle focuses on unprecedented summer heat waves, developed in collaboration with KMI and the Belgian Climate Centre.
• CHaRM-BE (Compound Hazards, Risks, and Mitigation for Health in Belgium) A three-year research project analyzing combined effects of temperature fluctuations, air pollution, wind, precipitation, and land use on health outcomes for vulnerable populations in Belgian cities, using integrated databases and advanced modeling methods.

Quantifiable outcome

• The 2021 Vesdre flooding caused €5.2 billion in damage, 39 deaths, and 16,000 displaced persons, illustrating the scale of risk CERAC assesses
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Belgian Universities (All 10)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 July 2024CERAC collaborates with all ten Belgian universities through its annual inter-university event series on planetary boundaries. Universities participate in research consultations and contribute expertise to risk assessments. The 2026 edition at UAntwerpen focuses on drought.
• European Environment Agency (EEA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCERAC's methodology for the Belgian Climate Risk Assessment (BCRA) is based on the European Climate Risk Assessment (EUCRA) framework developed by the EEA. This alignment ensures comparability with other EU member states.
• ClimactminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerClimact collaborated with CERAC on the first phase of the planetary boundaries project to define safe operating space boundaries at Belgian scale and evaluate their ecological footprint.
• CEESE (ULB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Centre for Environmental and Sustainability Research (CEESE) at Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB) supported CERAC in phase 2 of the planetary boundaries project, evaluating social impacts of exceeding planetary boundaries including effects on health, employment, and access to essential services.
• RambollminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerRamboll supported CERAC in phase 2 of the planetary boundaries project for the social impact analysis of exceeding planetary boundaries.
• Nationaal Geografisch Instituut (NGI)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe National Geographic Institute collaborated with CERAC on the 'Overview of the Status & Trends of Biodiversity Loss in Belgium' analysis, completed in September 2025.
• Federaal Planbureau (Federal Planning Bureau)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerA partnership between CERAC and the Federal Planning Bureau produced the first macro-fiscal cost assessment of climate change impacts on Belgian public finances. This supports compliance with new EU budgetary framework requirements.
• Koninklijk Meteorologisch Instituut (KMI/RMI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKMI serves as the scientific lead for the 'Tales of Future Weather' project, providing meteorological and climatological basis, identifying representative weather events, calculating daily weather data, and ensuring stories are anchored in rigorous science.
• Belgian Climate Centre (BCC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerBCC contributes resources and strategic expertise to the 'Tales of Future Weather' project, bridging the scientific community with stakeholders, policymakers, and practitioners, ensuring both data and stories reach non-specialist audiences.
• KU Leuven (Academisch Centrum voor Huisartsgeneeskunde)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKU Leuven leads the CHaRM-BE project on compound health risks from climate and environmental stress in Belgian cities. The project runs from March 2026 for three years, funded by BELSPO's Science4Policy programme and CERAC.
• SciensanocoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSciensano's Health Information unit contributes to the CHaRM-BE project, providing epidemiological expertise and health data for the compound health risks analysis.
• I-BioStat, Universiteit HasseltminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerI-BioStat at University of Hasselt contributes data science expertise to the CHaRM-BE project for advanced modeling of compound health risks.
• Vrije Universiteit Brussel (VUB)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVUB's Department of Sociology contributes socio-economic analysis expertise to the CHaRM-BE project.
• Université de Liège (ULiège)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerULiège's Laboratory for Climatology and Topoclimatology contributes climate modeling expertise to the CHaRM-BE project.
• Universiteit Gent (UGent)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUGent contributes to the CHaRM-BE project through its Department of Geography and also collaborates with CERAC on the BelFires and Fire4BE wildfire research projects.
• UGent and ULiège (BelFires Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe BelFires project, conducted by CERAC with UGent and ULiège, reconstructs the history of wildfires in Belgium since the early 20th century to better understand and anticipate this climate risk.
• UGent (Fire4BE Project)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Fire4BE project, planned to start in 2027, will analyze the evolution of wildfire risks in Belgium over the coming decades, assessing probability, intensity, and impacts on human health and critical infrastructure.
• Planetary GuardianscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPlanetary Guardians and professor Johan Rockström (Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research) launched the Chief Planetary Scientist Network during London Climate Action Week. CERAC Director Luc Bas was appointed as Belgium's first Chief Planetary Officer within this global network.
• Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPIK coordinates the global Chief Planetary Scientist Network alongside Planetary Guardians. Professor Johan Rockström serves as director. PIK's Planetary Boundaries Science Lab publishes the annual Planetary Health Check 2025.
• Stockholm Resilience CentrecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe CHaRM-BE project is based on the Earth System Boundaries framework developed by the Stockholm Resilience Centre. This framework informs CERAC's approach to assessing climate risks from a societal health perspective.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency: Dutch government research institute that produces strategic environmental analyses and policy assessments, including climate and nature scenarios. Direct peer in national-scale environmental policy research for a neighbouring low-lying European country.
• ADEME (Agence de la transition \u00e9cologique): French public agency supporting ecological transition through expertise, research, and policy advisory. Direct counterpart providing climate risk and adaptation analysis to French federal and regional authorities.
• Umweltbundesamt (German Environment Agency): Germany's federal environmental agency, performing national environmental monitoring, risk assessment, and policy advisory duties that closely parallel CERAC's Belgian mandate — same institutional function in a larger federal context.
• European Environment Agency (EEA): The EU-level environmental agency whose EUCRA framework underpins CERAC's Belgian Climate Risk Assessment methodology. Direct counterpart in producing cross-cutting climate and environmental risk assessments for policymakers.
• UK Climate Change Committee (CCC): Independent statutory body advising the UK and devolved governments on climate risk, adaptation, and net-zero. Closest English-language analogue producing a national Climate Risk Assessment (CCRA) on a multi-year cycle.

Emerging players

• Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI): Independent international research institute working on environment and development, including climate risk, adaptation, and policy — comparable research-to-policy translation function even if not itself a national agency.
• Swedish Meteorological and Hydrological Institute (SMHI): Swedish governmental expert agency under the Ministry of the Environment producing climate scenarios, hydrological risk analyses, and adaptation support — comparable mandate focused on national climate risk data products.

Others

• Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK): Lead scientific partner coordinating the Chief Planetary Scientist Network in which CERAC's director participates; produces planetary boundaries science underpinning CERAC's framework — adjacent research institution rather than direct competitor.
• Climact: Belgian climate consultancy that collaborated with CERAC on phase 1 of the planetary boundaries project; comparable Belgian-based player translating climate science into policy and corporate-decision support.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cerac-belgium

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Cerac - Climate Risk Assessment Center