Program/accelerator:

Climate Action

We aim to drive science, innovation, and collaboration to transform food, land, and water systems for a climate-resilient, net-zero, and equitable future.

Through more resilient, low-emissions farms, landscapes, and aquatic systems, we will advance research across agri-food systems benefiting between 38 million vulnerable small-scale producers and value chain actors across 30 countries.

Our work aims to help with

  • Reducing 1 gigaton of CO₂ by 2030
  • Unlocking US$15 billion in climate finance
  • Helping 38 million smallholder farmers

Where we will work in

Bangladesh, Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Honduras, India, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Challenges we’ll address

  • Vulnerability of small-scale producers affected by accelerating climate change and extreme weather events
  • Rising agri-food systems emissions which already contribute one-third of global greenhouse gas emissions
  • Environmental degradation and geopolitical instability

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Areas of Work

  • Prioritization and coordination of climate action
    We will strengthen coordination and collaboration on climate action across CGIAR through a front-desk function, as we mainstream a just transitions lens that informs strategies and theories of change. Additionally, we will produce, host, and disseminate climate analytics for prioritization, as well as synthesize and consolidate climate and FLW system research and action.
  • Digital advisories and climate risk management
    We will harness global, regional, and national capabilities in weather and climate forecasts and real-time monitoring through human-centered Climate Information Services and Early Warning Systems. This will address information asymmetries and gaps that currently hinder appropriate responses from farm to national levels.
  • Locally led adaptation
    We will support organizations’ climate adaptation action in developing mechanisms for financing locally led adaptation, building local stakeholders’ capacities to access funds, facilitating locally developed adaptation solutions and pathways, and integrating local priorities into national and global policy processes.
  • Low-emission transitions
    Together with partners, we will support the creation and implementation of low-emission development in at least 30 countries by enhancing carbon sequestration, decreasing current GHG emissions, and avoiding future emissions to achieve an overall GHG reduction of 1 gigaton CO2e by 2030 in 30 countries.
  • Finance and policy for scaling solutions
    We will support developing and reporting national climate policies and integrating climate considerations into sectoral policies. Additionally, we will provide insights to improve access to both public and private finance, including new financial instruments like the Loss and Damage Fund. Using translational science, we will translate complex data into decision-ready insights and tailored analytics for both policy and finance decisions while addressing data gaps.

Gender Equality & Social Inclusion

To meet global climate goals, it’s crucial to prioritize justice in food, land, and water systems, especially for women and marginalized communities who face greater climate impacts. Our work focuses on empowering these groups through fair climate resilience strategies, policy shifts, and community-driven solutions to support millions.

Our Approach

Interlinked support across CGIAR’s portfolio
We will closely work with the Better Diets & Nutrition, Breeding for Tomorrow, Food Frontiers & Security, Genebanks, Multifunctional Landscapes, Policy Innovations, Scaling for Impact, Sustainable Animal & Aquatic Foods, and Sustainable Farming programs, and the Capacity Sharing, Digital Transformation, Gender Equality & Social Inclusion accelerators.

Working to share our capacity with

  • Farmers, pastoralists, fisherfolk, SMEs
  • Policymakers and climate negotiators
  • Scientists

Built on CGIAR’s proven expertise

  • 20+ years of interdisciplinary climate research
  • Deep-rooted partnerships with local and international agencies, national governments, and policymakers
  • Global science-based solutions: actionable climate data and cutting-edge innovations tailored to local contexts
  • Proven high return on investment in scalable, equitable, and justice-oriented climate solutions
  • International influence through partnerships with advanced research institutions, think tanks, to shape and integrate international climate policies and processes

Publications