Climate Action
Overview
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 goal
Our work aims to help
Where we work
Bangladesh, Cambodia, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Honduras, India, Kenya, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, Philippines, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Challenges
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
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
Our 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
Events
News
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COP30 Week 1: Negotiation Highlights and CGIAR Perspectives
Week 1 of COP30 in Belém, Brazil – set against the backdrop of the Amazon – was eventful and at times fraught. As negotiators grappled with complex...
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COP30: Italy joins global champions to drive food systems transformation
11 November 2025, Belém: Italy joined the Alliance of Champions for Food Systems Transformation (ACF), becoming the newest member of a growing...
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DTA at COP30: Why Digital Transformation Belongs at the Heart of Climate Action
As the world gathers in Brazil for COP30, the conversations are once again focused on how to turn climate ambition and food security into real-world...
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CGIAR@COP30: Global Goal on Adaptation Track Negotiation Updates
As COP30 opens in Belém, the Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) is a key track for CGIAR. Established under the Paris Agreement’s Article 7, the...