Climate Change Adaptation
Climate change is increasing uncertainty about where cyclones, floods, and other climate crises will occur, when, for how long, and at what level of intensity. Combined with other human-driven processes, such as urbanization and deforestation, the ways in which climate affects our socioeconomic and ecological systems are changing. Efforts are needed to develop new approaches that challenge the underlying economic, demographic, political, and environmental factors that increase vulnerability to these changing climate risks.
Our work in climate risk management and adaptation in developing countries and Canada aims to help decision-makers devise policies and programs that will be sustainable over the long-term. Through participatory approaches that bring together local knowledge and scientific information, our experts develop the strategies, tools, and policy advice needed to respond effectively to the impacts of a changing climate on livelihoods, cultures, economies, and the environment. Finally, our work has also helped identify the role adaptation efforts play in peacebuilding and gender equality.
IISD serves as the secretariat for the National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network, has partnered in the development and use of the Community-based Risk Screening Tool – Adaptation and Livelihoods (CRiSTAL) and its specialized versions, and provides secretariat support for the Prairies Regional Adaptation Collaborative.
NAP Global Network
The NAP Global Network helps vulnerable countries plan for the long-term effects of climate change and take action to succeed in the face of them.
The Prairies Regional Adaptation Collaborative
The Prairies Regional Adaptation Collaborative (PRAC) works to increase capacity on the Canadian Prairies to prepare for the impacts of climate change.
CRiSTAL Tool
CRiSTAL is a project-planning tool that helps users design activities that support climate adaptation at the community level.
Related Projects

Climate Change and Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights: Exploring the Linkages
Climate resilience and gender equality are inextricably linked, and sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) are an essential element of gender equality. How can we ensure that climate action works hand in hand with efforts to realize SRHR?

Adaptation of Agricultural Value Chains to Climate Change in Madagascar
Working toward the sustainable financing, realization, and scaling of prioritized climate adaptation measures in Madagascar’s agricultural sector.

Gender-Related Knowledge, Attitudes, Behaviours, and Practices (KABP) Analysis of Climate Change and Disaster Risk Management Coordination Mechanisms in the Caribbean
Individual and institutional biases and discriminatory behaviours related to gender can undermine progress on gender-responsive climate change adaptation and disaster risk management (DRM). Changing attitudes and practices in key institutions can lead to more equitable outcomes on the ground.

Enhancing Caribbean Civil Society’s Access and Readiness for Climate Finance
The small island developing states (SIDS) of the Caribbean region are disproportionately vulnerable to external economic shocks and natural disasters that can instantly erase years—if not decades—of development gains. However, accessing climate finance remains a challenging process for many governments and organizations working in the region.

Mobilizing Development Finance for Strategic and Scaled-up Investment in Climate Adaptation
This project aims to advance the mainstreaming of adaptation in development finance strategies, by helping multilateral development banks scale up investments in actions that align with country-defined adaptation priorities.

NAP Global Network
The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) Global Network supports developing countries to advance their NAP processes to help accelerate climate change adaptation efforts around the world.

ALivE - Adaptation, Livelihoods and Ecosystems Planning Tool
ALivE is a tool designed to help organize and analyze information to plan effective ecosystem-based adaptation.

Advancing Alignment for Climate-Resilient Development
IISD has published three briefs introducing the concept of alignment and outlining entry points for countries to get started in aligning different policy processes.

Building a Climate-Resilient City
Well-planned adaptation measures in Alberta can improve the quality of urban life as well as protect infrastructures, strengthen community ties, and improve economic performance.

Guidebook on Monitoring and Evaluation of Adaptation at National and Sub-National Levels
As adaptation finance and the number of adaptation activities and strategies being pursued by governments grow, so does the need for robust monitoring and evaluation (M&E) approaches at national and sub-national levels.
Experts

Jo-Ellen Parry
Director, Adaptation (Canada)

Anne Hammill
Senior Director, Resilience

Alec Crawford
Senior Policy Advisor and Lead, ECP

Deborah Murphy
Senior Associate

Julie Dekens
Senior Researcher

Angie Dazé
Senior Policy Advisor and Lead, Gender Equality

Anika Terton
Policy Advisor

Blane Harvey
Associate

Christian Ledwell
Manager, NAP Global Network

Cameron Hunter
Policy Analyst

Patrick Guerdat
Policy Analyst

David Hoffmann
Policy Analyst

Daniel Morchain
Policy Advisor, Adaptation

Tyler Farrow
Policy Analyst
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