In April 2025, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) released LEED v5, the most transformative update to the LEED certification system in over a decade. For the first time, climate resilience is included in the certification process — not merely as an optional credit, but as a prerequisite for certification.
Every project pursuing LEED v5 certification must now complete a Climate Resilience Assessment, a rigorous evaluation of how current and future climate hazards may affect the function, safety and longevity of new LEED projects.
Resilient Analytics, a Stanley Consultants company, explains the new requirement and outlines how building owners, operators and design teams can effectively meet it to create climate resilient infrastructure.
What Does LEED v5 Require?
To meet the LEED v5 Climate Resilience Assessment requirement, project teams must:
- Analyze Climate Hazards: Project teams are required to assess a predefined list of 12 climate hazards, including extreme heat, sea level rise and wildfire, using both historical data and future projections.
- Evaluate Risk: The assessment must consider exposure, sensitivity, adaptive capacity, potential impact and vulnerability.
- Identify High-Priority Hazards: Teams must identify at least two high-priority hazards and integrate specific, risk-reducing design strategies into their projects.
While such an assessment may appear straightforward, conducting an effective Climate Resilience Assessment requires several key elements: access to and a deep understanding of complex climate projection datasets; expertise in applying a robust risk-based vulnerability assessment framework; and the ability to translate findings into actionable design adaptations. These adaptations should be carefully selected based on considerations including cost and return on investment.
How to Conduct a Climate Resilience Assessment
An actionable Climate Resilience Assessment starts with the right expertise. For more than a decade, our Resilient Analytics team has supported federal agencies, local governments, academic institutions and private companies with climate risk analysis to assess and mitigate risks to their assets and operations. We deliver rigorous, data-driven, climate resilience assessments that enable clients to meet the LEED v5 prerequisite requirements, including:
- Expert Data Integration: Data on the required hazards is not available from a single source. Resilient Analytics has integrated and validated data for each of the required climate hazard variables.
- Standardized, Transparent Methodology: Our process aligns directly with LEED v5 and other leading resilience frameworks.
- Design-Ready Output: Our results include practical, prioritized recommendations, helping teams make informed decisions.
- Efficiency at Scale: With pre-built models, tools, and adaptation libraries, we support fast-moving projects without sacrificing depth.
LEED v5 Is a Turning Point—Let’s Build for What’s Next
LEED v5 signals a new era: Resilience is now fundamental to sustainable design. Whether you are seeking LEED v5 certification, planning a complex development, or navigating resilience mandates, Resilient Analytics is ready to guide you with clarity, confidence and a deep commitment to protecting communities with future-ready climate resilient infrastructure.
Contact Matt Huddleston, PE, Principal Consultant | Climate Resilience, at 303-649-7876 or MHuddleston@resilient-analytics.com