Heat waves represent a growing climate risk in Sahelian cities, where households' adaptive capacities remain severely constrained by socioeconomic inequalities and housing conditions.

This study analyses the adaptation strategies implemented, as well as the levels and determinants of households' adaptive capacity to extreme heat in the city of Ouagadougou.

The data come from a survey of 421 households in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso, in 2025. A composite adaptive capacity index was constructed using principal component analysis (PCA) followed by hierarchical clustering (HAC), supplemented by multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) to identify household profiles.

The study found adaptation strategies are dominated by behavioural responses, used by more than 80% of households, such as modifying activity schedules, increasing water consumption, or using outdoor spaces for sleeping. Conversely, material strategies remain limited due to economic constraints, as more than 54% of households have less than 100,000 FCFA per month. The analysis highlights that nearly two-thirds of households have a low to moderate adaptive capacity, reflecting high vulnerability to extreme heat events.

The study highlights that adaptation to heat waves in Ouagadougou relies largely on reactive rather than structural strategies, heavily constrained by socioeconomic inequalities. The determinants of adaptive capacity are strongly linked to income, education, age, employment status, and type of neighbourhood.

Climate overshoot implications for local adaptation planning

New perspective piece argues climate overshoot – the temporary exceedance of the 1.5°C limit of the Paris Agreement – may not be relevant for short-term adaptation planning, but it should be considered for long-term plans and policies, such as infrastructure-based measures and for irreversible impacts such as sea-level rise.

Adapting East and Southern Africa’s livestock to climate change

This paper presents a decision-making framework to help livestock farmers in Eastern and Southern Africa select context-specific adaptation strategies in response to climate change. The framework uses a decision tree to evaluate options based on different climate scenarios and systems, offering tailored guidance for various livestock types and regions.

Solar geoengineering: a note to inform discussions on physical climate impacts, risks and governance issues

With international efforts on climate action still not on track to limit warming to 1.5°C, technological fixes that aim to intentionally alter the Earth’s climate, such as solar geoengineering, might seem like appealing options for tackling global warming. But they come with questions in terms of feasibility, impacts and risks, governance and geopolitics, and who may or may not benefit.

Technical guide for the development of long-term low emission development strategies in Africa

This technical guide proposes concrete steps and actions to help African countries develop strong, high-performing Long-Term Low Emission and Climate Resilient Development Strategies that chart a low-emission development path, build resilience, encourage innovation, and create new opportunities for green growth.

A review of loss and damage in the Caribbean (1994 to 2024)

Loss and damage from climate change has been the lived reality of Caribbean small island developing states (SIDS) for decades. Despite efforts to adapt, it is reversing development gains, leaving lasting financial stress, and causing irreparable damage, including the loss of cultural heritage. This report is the first to provide a systematic overview of how Caribbean countries are framing and reporting on loss and damage.

The 1.5°C limit and risks of overshoot

This briefing looks at what the 1.5°C limit means in terms of adaptation and loss and damage for the most vulnerable countries and regions. It finds that slowing down warming is critical to buy us time to adapt and also to avoid irreversible loss and damage. Even if warming rises above 1.5°C (overshoot) we can bring it down again with ambitious emissions reductions.

Le seuil de +1,5°C et le risque de dépassement de ce seuil

Ce rapport examine ce que la limite de 1,5 °C signifie en termes d'adaptation et de pertes et dommages pour les pays et régions les plus vulnérables. Il constate qu'il est essentiel de ralentir le réchauffement pour nous donner le temps de nous adapter et pour éviter des pertes et des dommages irréversibles. Même si le réchauffement dépasse 1,5 °C, nous pouvons le faire baisser à nouveau en réduisant les émissions de manière ambitieuse.

About us

Decarbonisation targets and 1.5°C pathways

Comment

Assessing household adaptive capacity to heatwaves in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Publications

Refining the proposal for a Regional Goal on Adaptation for the Caribbean

Projections of climate change vulnerability along the Shared Socioeconomic Pathways 2020–2100

Tracking what matters: SIDS priorities for global adaptation indicators