Governments around the world have gained a new tool to help them anticipate and respond more effectively to the growing number of crises linked to climate change and other global challenges. The Accelerator for Systemic Risk Assessment (ASRA) has launched the Systemic Tool for Exploring and Evaluating Risks (STEER), a modern framework designed to improve how policymakers understand and address interconnected risks.

The timing of this launch is important. The Global Tipping Points Report released recently warnedthat dangerous climate thresholds, such as widespread ice melt and the loss of tropical forests, are now becoming likely realities. Yet, despite repeated warnings, most countries still handle risks in isolation, without fully recognising how crises in areas such as climate, health, and energy link together. STEER has been created to bridge that gap and help decision-makers think in a more coordinated way.

Understanding the Need for Integration

The STEER framework helps officials identify weak points in a country’s preparedness and encourages communication between key departments including finance, health, defence, and energy. It does not claim to offer complete control over these crises but instead builds the capacity to respond flexibly and intelligently when they occur.

ASRA’s Executive Director, Ruth Richardson, explained that STEER allows governments to see connections between risks and take practical steps that strengthen emergency planning. “The idea,” she said, “is to build adaptive capacity rather than depend on the illusion of control.”

The new framework helps policymakers ask the right questions about vulnerability and resilience, enabling them to better understand how different systems—such as water, power, food, and public health—depend on each other. This understanding is vital for planning ahead and avoidinga chain reaction of failures during major disruptions.

Features of the STEER Framework

STEER operates through two main components: Systemic Risk Assessment (SRA) and Systemic Risk Response (SRR). These allow governments to move from identifying threats to taking coordinated action. The tool also acts as a hub for information-sharing, offering case studies and evidence from around the world.

Unlike digital databases that simply provide data, STEER functions as a “thinking companion.” Itencourages users to explore how one risk may influence another—for example, how heatwavesaffect energy demand, or how cyberattacks can disrupt emergency systems.

Ajay Gambhir, ASRA’s Director of Systemic Risk Assessment, stated that STEER is anchored in principles such as respect for nature, acceptance of complexity, and support for long-termtransformation. These principles set it apart from traditional models that rely heavily on prediction and control alone.

Global Reach and Indian Relevance

The framework is already in use. Since its demonstration in June 2025, more than 250 early adopters around the world have started applying STEER to a variety of issues—from wildfires anddroughts to cyber threats and freshwater management.

In India, agencies such as the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) are expandingtheir approach to multi-hazard preparedness as extreme weather events become more frequent. Tools like STEER can help these agencies integrate different types of risks into their nationalplanning systems.

Experts believe this could strengthen India’s resilience by promoting cooperation betweendifferent ministries and improving access to reliable data. According to Sarah Hendel-Blackford, Director of Systemic Risk Policy and Response at ASRA, the most effective responses to risk not only reduce harm but also unlock new opportunities and create positive ripple effects.

As governments across the globe face increasingly interconnected crises, STEER represents anew way of thinking—one that moves beyond managing separate emergencies to understandingthe full web of global risks. By doing so, it marks a step towards more intelligent, adaptive, andsustainable governance.

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