Climate change is happening now, and adaptation efforts are struggling to keep up. As global temperatures rise, adaptation will become harder, and in vulnerable places, limits will be reached. Adaptation has become an urgent priority for vulnerable countries.

We advise on adaptation planning with a special focus on transformational change to address long-term challenges. We also analyse the costs and effectiveness of different options to inform policymakers.

Scientific and technical expertise:

local adaptation planning and policy options
hard and soft limits for adaptation
developing novel approaches to adaptation modelling
transformational adaptation

Delay tactics at IPCC-61 could put science inputs to the UNFCCC at risk

The latest Plenary of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has just concluded in Sofia, Bulgaria. Despite days of deliberation, delegates were not able to agree on delivering the next round of reports in time for the second global stocktake, despite a request to do so from governments in the first global stocktake outcome agreed in Dubai last year.

How Africa can be better represented in the next cycle of IPCC reports and why it matters

Despite its climate vulnerabilities, Africa was highly underrepresented in the last IPCC cycle. As governments start planning the IPCC’s seventh assessment cycle, more funding and support for African climate science – and scientists – could help address this and result in more equitable climate policies.

The IPCC set to respond to growing demand for climate science to inform policy

Last week in Istanbul, climate scientists and governments met in the sixtieth session of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) to agree a plan for its seventh, and potentially most consequential report cycle. The outcome means the IPCC will most probably take a more streamlined approach to its seventh cycle.

From droughts to floods: how Eastern African countries are responding to the rising El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole

The Horn of Africa looks set to go from one disaster to another as floods intensified by a rising El Niño and a positive Indian Ocean Dipole are predicted to follow a prolonged drought. We take a look at climate policies in the region and what countries are doing to prepare for compound extreme events.

Climate change is here now – we need to talk about adaptation

So far, 2021 has seen a summer of climate extremes in the Northern Hemisphere, bringing even the most developed and seemingly well-prepared nations to their knees. It has been clear for years that science underestimates the scope of increasing extremes, as climate models perform better for the mean. An immediate question follows: how can we prepare?

Understanding the complex relationship between land and climate

Land-based solutions can help mitigate and adapt to climate change, but some could make it more difficult to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals. Scientists from our LAMACLIMA project explain what this means and how the project can improve our knowledge and implementation of land-based solutions.

Climate change and small islands: more scientific evidence of high risks

Small island developing states (SIDS) have long been recognised as being particularly vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. In a recently published article our researchers added further scientific evidence that island states are particularly at risk, and face unique challenges in addressing impacts.

The building blocks for vital climate adaptation in small islands

Improving access to climate finance and increasing absorption of funding opportunities are integral to speeding up Small Island Developing States’ (SIDS) efforts to enhance adaptation and build long-term resilience to climate change. A recent “Writeshop” in Samoa, which brought together Pacific and Caribbean representatives to build on each other's experiences, yielded a number of valuable lessons.

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Battle lines drawn at IPCC plenary as timeline decision successfully delayed for the third time

Why the Caribbean is bracing for what could be the worst hurricane season on record

Delay tactics at IPCC-61 could put science inputs to the UNFCCC at risk

How Africa can be better represented in the next cycle of IPCC reports and why it matters

Evidence from Berlin makes the case for urban green spaces: up to 3°C cooler in a heatwave

The IPCC set to respond to growing demand for climate science to inform policy

COP28: social and economic metrics could serve as stepping stone for Global Goal on Adaptation

From droughts to floods: how Eastern African countries are responding to the rising El Niño and Indian Ocean Dipole

From volcanic eruptions to tropical cyclones - adaptation and disaster risk reduction are still a question of finance for small islands

Global Goal for Adaptation must be locally driven

Climate change is here now – we need to talk about adaptation

Understanding the complex relationship between land and climate

Climate change and small islands: more scientific evidence of high risks

Business-as-unusual: working with Ghana's private sector on climate change adaptation

Why climate scenarios need to better incorporate ‘adaptive capacity’

The building blocks for vital climate adaptation in small islands