Adaptation Futures

Update: Photos, Plenary Recordings, and Presentations Are Now Up!

On the way to Rio+20, you joined us to consider what science, policy, and action the world needs to adapt to climate change!

Climate change is one of the most important environmental, social and economic issues facing the world today. Despite growing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, some impacts such as higher temperatures, more intense floods, droughts, wildfires, and rising sea levels are now inevitable. We must plan for and adapt to these changes, to minimize the negative impacts and enhance the benefits to natural systems, societies, and human activities and well-being. This challenges decision making at all levels, from individuals to governments, as well as in business and industry.

Co-hosted and convened by the University of Arizona in the southwestern United States and by UNEP’s Programme of Research on Climate Change Vulnerability, Impacts and Adaptation (PROVIA), the conference focused on adaptation to climate variability and change. The conference brought together researchers, policy makers, and practitioners from developed and developing countries to share insights into the challenges and opportunities that adaptation presents.  It showcased cutting-edge research from around the world, focusing on themes of equity and risk, learning, capacity building, methodology, adaptation finance and investment, and ecosystem based adaptation approaches. It explored practical adaptation policies and approaches, and share strategies for decision making from the international to the local scale.

This conference followed on the success of the pioneering Climate Adaptation Futures Conference, co-hosted by Australia’s National Climate Change Adaptation Research Facility and the CSIRO Climate Adaptation Flagship in Australia in 2010 with nearly 1,000 participants from around the world.  Inspired by this 1st conference we hope to build on the community that came together in Queensland and foster a connected, collaborative and creative international network of adaptation researchers, decision makers and interested citizens. To that end, we hope that you will join us in 2014 in Fortaleza Brazil for Adaptation Futures 2014!