The world has changed, so has Climate Action at CGIAR

CGIAR is ‘on the road’ to COP30 climate summit in Belem, Brazil, this November. But how is the research agenda of the world’s largest publicly funded research partnership for food security transforming to meet contemporary and future climate challenges?

Climate change is no longer a distant threat. An additional 189 million people will face hunger in a world that is two degrees warmer. At four degrees, nearly two billion people could go hungry. Farmers in East Africa already face floods and droughts in the same season. Rice growers in Southeast Asia struggle with rising methane emissions and shrinking water supplies.

At the same time, while agriculture and food systems exacerbate climate change, they also offer us gamechanging opportunities to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Climate action is about tackling and adapting to climate change.

“Why Climate Action – why is it important?” asks CGIAR Chief Scientist Dr. Sandra Milach. “We are all worried about climate. Because we know that we’re on track for exceeding 1.5 degrees of global warming. This will have enormous consequences, especially for farmers who produce a third of global food production. These are smaller farmers who are going to be extremely affected by climate change.”

CGIAR has spent decades making agriculture more resilient. Research shows high returns: for every dollar invested in CGIAR agricultural research and development, investors see USD 10 worth of benefits. CGIAR generates cutting-edge knowledge, data, and evidence across crops, livestock, fish, natural resources, and agricultural policy. But the world is changing fast — and so must climate research.

That is why CGIAR launched its Climate Action program: a new approach that puts partnership, inclusion, and real-world impact at the center.

How do we make the CGIAR offer more relevant, timely and accessible?

This was a question explored by Rachel Lambert, Agriculture Research Team Leader at the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office, at the recent CGIAR Science Week in Nairobi, Kenya.

What works in climate-smart agriculture? Can you tell us what works in agroecology? What are the best innovations we should be doing? These are the kinds of questions that development partners like Rachel hear from country partners all the time.

A new CGIAR Climate Hub will coordinate work across partnerships, ensuring greater consistency, quality, and collective impact.

“I really like the idea of a Climate Hub” Rachel said. “Evidence synthesis and accessibility is really important.” Such demand from partners is driving innovations in the way CGIAR works and its 2030 portfolio. This is apparent not least in how CGIAR Climate Action anchors its endeavors around five key areas of work: Prioritization and coordination of climate action; Digital advisories and climate risk management; Locally led adaptation; Low-emission transitions; Finance and policy for scaling solutions.

Enjoy our discussions with team leaders at the end, where you can learn more about some of these.

From Delivering Solutions to Co-Creating Them

“How can we start to change our entire business model and operating model to become something different and to empower the systems to work in and of themselves?” asks Dr. Todd Rosenstock of the Alliance of Bioversity and CIAT.

In the past, innovations were often designed in isolation and handed down to communities. Today, solutions must be co-created with farmers, governments, and local organizations so they reflect real needs. Climate Action flips the model: it works hand-in-hand with partners — from early warning systems in East Africa, to community-led adaptation hubs in South Asia, to low-emission food systems in Latin America.

Climate risks differ from place to place, so solutions must also differ. The program focuses where demand, vulnerability, and opportunity are greatest — from small-scale livestock producers in Africa to rice farmers in Asia. At the same time, lessons learned locally are scaled globally, aligning with national adaptation plans and regional platforms, learning critical lessons on how to scale innovations from projects like Accelerating Impacts of CGIAR Climate Research for Africa (AICCRA) which has reached millions of people with tools, practices and services (often bundled together) which make them climate resilient.

Building Systems That Break Silos

Climate change does not respect boundaries between food, water, land, and energy — and neither should research. Climate Action unites fragmented projects under one umbrella.Another transformation lies in digital innovation and artificial intelligence. “I think [CGIAR] can become a Silicon Valley of agriculture,” says Parmesh Shah, Global Lead for Data, Digital Agriculture and Innovations at the World Bank. He calls for interoperable data systems and a focus on high-impact areas with real-world adoption.

AI-powered climate advisories connect weather forecasts with financial tools like insurance, soil and water management practices, and even government policy. Bundling solutions in this way means higher adoption, stronger resilience, and better chances of scaling impact.

Two Game Changers: Digital Tools and Climate Finance

Digital services are already transforming access to information. Millions of farmers can now receive tailored advice through SMS, radio, or mobile apps — not generic messages, but climate-smart, gender-sensitive, and context-specific guidance, linked to tools like index insurance.

“I think what the farmers need really is the information to make decisions, and on time,” says Dr. Ousmane Ndiaye of the African Centre of Meteorological Application for Development (ACMAD). A key CGIAR partner, Dr. Ndiaye said ACMAD “wants to be a center of excellence of climate services…. ensuring that no one is left behind in Africa and climate information is accessible to everybody in Africa.”

On the finance side, CGIAR is moving from research for its own sake to research that unlocks investment. Astonishingly, only two percent of climate investments reach smallholder farmers. By working with development banks and private investors, Climate Action is shaping finance-ready innovations that can be funded, scaled, and sustained. The goal: to influence at least USD 15 billion in climate finance by 2030.

Linking Research to Policy, Finance, and People

Climate Action also shines a spotlight on lowering emissions from food systems and land use. A third of all greenhouse gas emissions come from agriculture, forestry, and land use. Adaptation and mitigation are two sides of the same coin, and low-emissions transitions are key to sustainable development.

Tools such as spatial modeling and socioeconomic analysis identify high-potential landscapes and viable finance mechanisms that developing countries can tap into. Carbon sequestration offers a compelling income stream that can support health, education, and infrastructure in resource-constrained contexts.

Most importantly, equity and inclusion are non-negotiable. Women, youth, and Indigenous communities are often most vulnerable but least resourced. Research shows adaptation strategies work better when diverse voices shape them. Locally led adaptation models and just transition frameworks will be scaled across regions, ensuring no one is left behind.

A Vision for the Future

All of this adds up to a major shift for CGIAR. Climate Action is not just about generating knowledge — it is about driving systems change. The program links research to policy, finance, and everyday lives, ensuring science delivers at scale.

The world has changed, and the urgency of climate action has never been greater. The CGIAR vision is clear. By 2030 we want:

• 16 million small-scale producers and value chain actors benefitting from climate innovations
• 100 policies informed by climate science
• 15 billion USD in climate finance invested
• 1 Gt CO2e reduced or sequestered

Climate Action is CGIAR’s response to the defining challenge of our time.