The Rest is Climate Podcast

Suid-Afrika se Tweede Nasionaal Bepaalde Bydrae, 2025

Hierdie Rest is Climate-podsending dek Suid-Afrika se Tweede Nasionaal Bepaalde Bydrae (NDC), 'n formele dokument wat in Oktober 2025 ingevolge die Paryse Ooreenkoms gekommunikeer is. Hierdie Suid-Afrika se NDC skets die land se verbintenisse rakende versagting, aanpassing en ondersteuning vir die tydperk 2031-2035, wat die vordering vanaf sy eerste NDC demonstreer.
Sleutelkomponente sluit in 'n versagtingsteikenreeks vir 2035 (320-380 Mt CO2-ekwivalent) en 'n Regverdige Oorgang na netto nul CO2-uitlatings teen 2050. Dit gee ook besonderhede oor agt nasionale aanpassingsdoelwitte met gepaardgaande finansieringsbehoeftes (ZAR 250 miljard vir aanpassing tussen 2026-2035) en wy 'n afdeling aan die aanspreek van verlies en skade as gevolg van toenemende klimaatsimpakte. Die NDC raam sy benadering op grond van billikheid, nasionale omstandighede en die behoefte aan beduidende internasionale klimaatsfinansiering om sy ambisieuse doelwitte te bereik.
Die bespreking is gebaseer op navorsing gelei deur die Climate Risk Lab wat die tegniese grondslag gelê het vir en die opstel van Suid-Afrika se Tweede Nasionaal Bepaalde Bydrae kragtens die Paryse Ooreenkoms, https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/2025-10/South%20Africa%27s%20second%20Nationally%20Determined%20Contribution_2025.pdf#page=2.08

South Africa's Second Nationally Determined Contribution, 2025

This Rest is Climate podcast covers South Africa’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), a formal document communicated in October 2025 under the Paris Agreement. This South Africa’s NDC outlines the country’s commitments regarding mitigation, adaptation, and support for the period 2031-2035, demonstrating progression from its first NDC.
Key components include a mitigation target range for 2035 (320-380 Mt CO2-eq) and a Just Transition to net zero CO2 emissions by 2050. It also details eight national adaptation goals with associated finance needs (ZAR 250 billion for adaptation between 2026–2035) and dedicates a section to addressing loss and damage from increasing climate impacts. The NDC frames its approach based on equity, national circumstances, and the need for significant international climate finance to achieve its ambitious goals.
The discussion is based on research led by the Climate Risk Lab that laid the technical foundation for and drafting of South Africa’s Second Nationally Determined Contribution under the Paris Agreement, https://unfccc.int/sites/default/files/2025-10/South%20Africa%27s%20second%20Nationally%20Determined%20Contribution_2025.pdf#page=2.08

Securing structural economic transformation in a climate-changed world

This podcast highlights how both the impacts of climate change and our responses to climate change affect climate change risk of structural economic transformation.
examines Structural Economic Transformation (SET) in a world impacted by climate change, asserting its continued importance for poverty reduction and resilience. It highlights how climate change necessitates adaptations in development strategies, from diversifying production away from vulnerable sectors to capitalising on green economy opportunities, which are also influenced by geopolitics. The authors investigate how climate change and global responses affect national SET efforts and cross-border economic transformation, using case studies from Ethiopia, Jamaica, Kenya, Bangladesh, and Kazakhstan to illustrate diverse national experiences. The paper identifies a "green squeeze" through trade and finance policies by major industrial powers, but also proposes a "green ease" through reformed trade measures, R&D in green technologies, and supportive financial systems. Ultimately, it argues that advancing SET, alongside climate adaptation, is critical for all countries, with existing development initiatives now also serving to build climate resilience and competitiveness in a low-carbon economy.It is based on work from ODI Global and the Climate Risk Lab: Securing structural economic transformation in a climate-changed world. ODI Global Working paper. London: ODI Global, www.odi.org/publications/securing-structural-economic-transformation-in-a-climate-changed-world

Indigenous knowledge in adaptation to climate change across Africa

This Rest is Climate podcast examines the critical role of Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) in climate change adaptation in Africa. They highlight how ILK, encompassing traditional wisdom, practices, and observations, is crucial for African communities, particularly smallholder farmers, in forecasting weather patterns, managing natural resources, and ensuring food security. The texts also acknowledge the challenges to ILK's continued use, such as urbanisation, colonial influences, and a lack of formal recognition and documentation, while stressing the importance of integrating ILK with modern scientific approaches for more effective and inclusive climate adaptation strategies across the continent.
It is based on research from the Climate Risk lab covering:
Role of Indigenous and local knowledge in seasonal forecasts and climate risk preparedness: a case study of smallholder farmers in Chiredzi, Zimbabwe, Environmental Science and Policy, 145, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2023.03.017
Is indigenous knowledge serving climate adaptation? Evidence from various African regions, Development Policy Review, https://doi.org/10.1111/dpr.12664
The Role of Indigenous Knowledge in Climate Change Adaptation in Africa, Environmental Science and Policy, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2022.06.004
The role of indigenous knowledge and local knowledge in water sector adaptation to climate change in Africa: A structured assessment, Sustainability Science, https://doi.org/10.1007/s11625-022-01118-x
Understanding responses to climate-related water scarcity in Africa, Science of The Total Environment, 806(1), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150420

Complex Climate Risk: Advances and Adaptation Strategies

This podcast focuses on recent advances in complex climate change risk assessment for adaptation and discusses how to better assess and manage the intricate and interconnected risks posed by climate change. It highlights promising opportunities for action in areas like cities, coastal zones, and finance, advocating for the implementation of new methodologies.
These methods, such as participatory modelling and adaptation pathways planning, aim to overcome challenges like uncertainty and complexity by providing more actionable insights for decision-makers. The podcast then discusses five key enablers for effective and equitable adaptation, including integrating equity, avoiding maladaptation, investing in accessible knowledge, incorporating diverse expertise, and assessing local feasibility.
The podcast is drawn from research at the Climate Risk Lab on the theme:
Advances in complex climate change risk assessment for adaptation. npj Clim. Action 4, 74 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-025-00281-y 
 

Transforming Africa's Climate Change Research Landcape

This podcast discusses the financial landscape of climate change research concerning Africa. It analyses a substantial database of research grants from 1990 to 2020, revealing that a disproportionately small fraction of global climate research funding targets Africa, despite the continent's high vulnerability to climate change. Most of this funding originates from and is received by institutions in Europe and North America, with African institutions receiving only a small percentage. The research also investigates thematic priorities, noting a greater focus on climate impacts and adaptation over mitigation, and an uneven geographical distribution of funding across African nations, often aligning with former colonial ties rather than climate vulnerability. The podcast then reflects on approaches, that can help overcome these challenges, including decolonial ones.
The podcast draws on research from the Climate Risk Lab on:
Funding flows for climate change research on Africa: where do they come from and where do they go? Climate and Development. https://doi.org/10.1080/17565529.2021.1976609
Decolonising climate change-heritage research, Nature Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-022-01279-8
Decoloniality and anti-oppressive practices for a more ethical ecology, Nature, Ecology & Evolution, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-021-01460-w 

Climate Change in Africa: impacts, vulnerabilities, and adaptation strategies across the continent

This podcast discusses climate change impacts, vulnerabilities, and adaptation strategies across Africa, categorising findings by sub-regions and various sectors. It highlights how socio-economic, political, and environmental factors intersect to create multi-dimensional climate change exposure and vulnerability, particularly for those in informal settlements, women, children, and the elderly. It highlights challenges in climate finance, governance, and the integration of indigenous knowledge into adaptation planning. Furthermore, it details how climate change affects crucial areas like health, food security, migration, and infrastructure, while also discussing the potential of climate information services and robust legal frameworks to foster climate-resilient development. The podcast also explores the nexus between water, energy, and food security, underscoring the complexities and interdependencies requiring holistic solutions.
This podcast draws on work led by the Climate Risk Lab through the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change 6th Assessment Report (Chapter 9: Africa) and includes:
Africa. In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability. Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [H.-O. Pörtner, D.C. Roberts, et al. (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009325844.011
Climate change in South Africa: Risks and opportunities for climate-resilient development in the IPCC Sixth Assessment WGII Report. South African Journal of Science;118(9/10), https://doi.org/10.17159/sajs.2022/14492

Mapping Adaptation to Climate Change Globally

This podcast gives a a comprehensive overview of research on human adaptation to climate change, primarily drawing from the Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative (GAMI). We examine where, how, and to what extent adaptation responses are being implemented globally, covering various geographical regions, sectors, and the types of climate hazards addressed. A significant focus is placed on the involvement of diverse actors, from individuals and households to governments and civil society organizations, and the policy tools that support or hinder adaptation efforts. Furthermore, the sources critically assess the consideration of social equity in adaptation, the feasibility of different adaptation options, and the presence of constraints and limits to effective adaptation, including instances of maladaptation and the potential for transformational change. The podcast draws on research from the Climate Risk Lab including:
A systematic global stocktake of evidence on human adaptation to climate change. Nature Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-021-01170-y
A global assessment of actors and their roles in climate change adaptation. Nature Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-023-01824-z
Adaptation to compound climate risks: a systematic global stocktake, iScience, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.isci.2023.105926
Dichotomy or Continuum? A global review of the interaction between autonomous and planned adaptations. Ecology & Society, https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-15335-300118
Progress and gaps in climate change adaptation in coastal cities across the globe. Nature Cities. 10.1038/s44284-024-00106-9. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44284-024-00106-9
Human adaptation to climate change in the context of forests: a systematic review. Climate Risk Management, 100573. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.crm.2023.100573
Between tinkering and transformation: A contemporary appraisal of climate change adaptation research on the world's islands. Frontiers in Climate. 4. https://doi.org/10.3389/fclim.2022.1072231
Tradeoffs and Synergies Across Global Climate Change Adaptations in the Food-Energy-Water Nexus, Earth's Future, https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1029/2021EF002201
Feasibility assessment of climate change adaptation options across Africa: An evidence-based review. Environmental Research Letters (Special Issue on Evidence Synthesis for Climate Solutions). https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac092d
What climate change adaptation is happening in conflict-affected areas? Discover Sustainability. 2(42) https://doi.org/10.1007/s43621-021-00052-9
A global assessment of policy tools to support climate adaptation, Climate Policy, https://doi.org/10.1080/14693062.2021.2002251
Closing the Adaptation Gap in Mountains, Mountain Research and Development, 41(3):A1-A10. https://doi.org/10.1659/MRD-JOURNAL-D-21-00033.1
Equity in human adaptation-related responses: A systematic global review, One Earth, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2021.09.001
Global evidence of constraints and limits to human adaptation, Regional Environmental Change, 21(85), https://doi.org/10.1007/s10113-021-01808-9
The effects on public health of climate change adaptation responses: a systematic review of evidence from low- and middle-income countries, Environmental Research Letters, (16) 073001, https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/ac092c
Climate change adaptation to extreme heat: A global systematic review of implemented action, Oxford Open Climate Change. https://doi.org/10.1093/oxfclm/kgab005

Climate Change Risk and the United Nations Security Council: interrogating 'Climate Security'

This podcast examines the multifaceted concept of climate security through the lens of various nations and international bodies, particularly the United Nations Security Council (UNSC). It discusses how countries like South Africa, Belgium, the Dominican Republic, Estonia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Niger, Russia, the UK, and Vietnam perceive and address climate change as a risk and a security issue, often categorising it into national, human, and ecological security frameworks. The texts explore how these perceptions influence their climate risk responses through domestic policies, defense strategies, and foreign diplomacy, highlighting the increasing trend of integrating climate change into security discussions, despite initial resistance from some nations or concerns about the militarisation of climate change.
The podcast draws on research led by the Climate Risk Lab:
The challenges of the increasing institutionalization of climate security. PLOS Climate. 3(4):e0000402. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pclm.0000402
Climate Security in the Anthropocene: Exploring the Approaches of United Nations Security Council Member-States, Springer Anthropocene Series, (Series Ed.) Brauch, H.G., Springer Nature, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26014-8
Securing a Climate-resilient Pathway for South Africa. In: Hardt, J.N., Harrington, C., von Lucke, F., Estève, A., Simpson, N.P. (eds) Climate Security in the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene: Politik—Economics—Society—Science, vol 33. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26014-8_11
A Framework for Assessing Climate Security. In: Hardt, J.N., Harrington, C., von Lucke, F., Estève, A., Simpson, N.P. (eds) Climate Security in the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene: Politik—Economics—Society—Science, vol 33. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26014-8_1
Climate Security at a Crossroads: The Evolution and Future of Climate Security in the United Nations Security Council and its Member States. In: Hardt, J.N., Harrington, C., von Lucke, F., Estève, A., Simpson, N.P. (eds) Climate Security in the Anthropocene. The Anthropocene: Politik—Economics—Society—Science, vol 33. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-26014-8_17

Climate Resilient Development

This podcast discusses the idea of Climate Resilient Development (CRD), a concept that integrates adaptation and mitigation with sustainable development to achieve a liveable future. It emphasise that a narrowing window of opportunity necessitates urgent and fundamental shifts in current development approaches, moving beyond traditional economic growth models towards inclusive, just, and equitable outcomes. 
It draws on research from the Climate Risk Lab on:
Pathways for urgent action towards climate resilient development, Nature Climate Change, https://doi.org/10.1038/s41558-024-02190-0
Climate-resilient development planning for cities: progress from Cape Town, Nature partner journal Urban Sustainability, https://doi.org/10.1038/s42949-023-00089-x
Climate Resilient Development Pathways in Global Drylands, Anthropocene Science, https://doi.org/10.1007/s44177-022-00027-z