The Rest is Climate Podcast

This podcast highlights urban areas are essential hubs for integrating environmental policy with public health, potentially preventing millions of deaths by addressing the intersection of climate change and human well-being. This research identifies eight action domains, including sustainable food systems and nature-based solutions, that provide immediate, local advantages alongside long-term global cooling. By focusing on synergistic interventions, such as active travel and energy-efficient housing, cities can achieve significant improvements in air quality and physical health while reducing greenhouse gas emissions. This approach transforms health benefits from a secondary consideration into a primary motivation for climate investment, offering a practical framework for meeting international sustainability targets. Ultimately, the authors advocate for integrated research and policy to capitalise on these near-term gains, ensuring that urban development prioritises both a stable climate and a thriving population.It draws on recently published paper from the Climate Risk Lab: Eight urban action domains for improved climate-health outcomes. Nature Health (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s44360-026-00198-8

This episode focuses on a review that examines the evolution of traditional, indigenous, and local knowledge as vital evidence for climate change adaptation between 2000 and 2025. The research identifies a significant surge in academic interest after 2015, highlighting a transition from merely observing environmental shifts to actively implementing governance and resilience strategies. By categorising 1,693 articles into five thematic clusters, the authors explore how these unique knowledge systems support food security, biodiversity, and disaster management. The study emphasises that while these categories overlap, Indigenous Knowledge carries specific rights-bearing implications that require distinct ethical safeguards and sovereignty protections. Ultimately, the source advocates for a plural-evidence approach that connects community-based insights with scientific modeling to create more legitimate and effective climate responses.The episode is based on a recently published paper in the journal Advances in Climate Change Research entitled Traditional, indigenous and local knowledge for climate adaptation: trends, themes and governance implications (2000–2025), https://doi.org/10.1016/j.accre.2026.07.019 

The Glo-CoH dataset is a comprehensive new digital resource designed to map the precise boundaries of UNESCO World Heritage Sites located in vulnerable low-lying coastal regions. Developed by a multidisciplinary team, the project digitised 1,250 individual areas across the globe that sit less than 20 metres above sea level to better assess risks from climate-driven sea-level rise. Researchers used high-resolution satellite imagery and official site plans to create these detailed spatial records, addressing a previous lack of accessible, high-quality data. A rigorous validation process confirmed the high accuracy of the mapping, ensuring it is a reliable tool for future environmental planning and preservation efforts. This open-access dataset allows for sophisticated geo-spatial analysis to protect cultural, natural, and mixed heritage locations from increasing threats like erosion and flooding. The authors intend to update the collection annually to reflect new inscriptions and evolving environmental conditions.This Rest is Climate Podcast draws on the recently published paper from the Climate Risk Lab: Mapping the global distribution of coastal World Heritage Sites: Glo-CoH, a new Global Coastal Heritage dataset. Scientific Data. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41597-026-07758-3. 

This Rest is Climate podcast introduces the concept of adaptation literacy as a vital evolution beyond basic climate awareness, focusing on the practical ability to navigate and respond to localized environmental risks. It presents a five-pillar framework that encompasses understanding impacts, risk perception, adaptation skills, reflexive capabilities, and ethical engagement to bridge the gap between knowledge and action. By distinguishing this from traditional climate literacy, adaptation literacy emphasizes transformative capabilities such as systems thinking, participatory governance, and the integration of Indigenous knowledge. The research identifies significant global and regional disparities in literacy rates, particularly noting how gender and socio-economic status limit adaptive agency in vulnerable populations. Ultimately, the source advocates for place-based, justice-oriented strategies that empower communities to implement effective, long-term solutions to climate change. Such a shift is presented as essential for moving from reactive coping to proactive resilience and informed decision-making across all sectors of society.It draws on recent research from the Climate Risk Lab and a global team of collaborators involved in the the implementation, policy and research on adaptation and public understanding of adaptation response options: Simpson, N.P., Sabour, S., Andrews, T.M. et al., 2026. Climate change adaptation literacy. npj Climate Action, https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-026-00403-0

This podcast examines the devastating global impacts of compound climate events throughout 2025, categorising them into specific typologies such as spatial, temporal, and preconditioned interactions. We highlight how overlapping hazards, such as wildfires in Canada and catastrophic flooding in Mexico, resulted in damage that far exceeded the effects of isolated weather incidents. Key case studies illustrate how pre-existing environmental conditions, like extreme droughts or saturated soils, significantly amplified the lethality of subsequent storms and heatwaves. Beyond terrestrial disasters, the text notes severe ecological disruptions, including record-breaking coral bleaching in Australia and agricultural failures in Türkiye. Ultimately, the research advocates for integrated adaptation strategies that account for the increasingly complex and nonlinear nature of modern climate risks. These findings suggest that traditional disaster modelling must evolve to address the cascading vulnerabilities created by multiple concurrent hazards.
The podcast draws on research from the Climate Risk Lab: Raymond et al. Compound weather and climate events in 2025. Nature Reviews Earth & Environment (2026). https://doi.org/10.1038/s43017-026-00797-9 

This Rest is Climate Podcast discusses the formal adoption of the Belém Adaptation Indicators at COP30, which establish a framework for protecting global cultural heritage from climate change. This initiative aims to operationalise the Global Goal on Adaptation by creating measurable targets for preserving both physical sites and intangible traditions. The authors advocate for an ambitious approach that integrates Indigenous and local knowledge while avoiding excessive administrative burdens by aligning with existing UNESCO inventories. They highlight critical gaps, such as the need for better climate-resilient infrastructure reporting and improved access to adaptation finance for heritage custodians. Ultimately, the sources reposition heritage not just as a vulnerable asset, but as a dynamic driver of social resilience and sustainable development. Progress is measured through a mix of quantitative metrics and narrative-based assessments to capture the complex, relational value of cultural continuity.The podcast is based on the recent article from the Climate Risk Lab published in npj Climate Action, 'An Ambitious Global Goal on Adaptation for Heritage', https://doi.org/10.1038/s44168-026-00379-x 

This Rest is Climate podcast discusses how extreme heat negatively affects educational outcomes for children in low- and middle-income countries. The research highlights that rising temperatures disrupt learning through direct physiological and cognitive stress, while also indirectly hindering school access by damaging agricultural livelihoods and household income. While the evidence consistently shows that heat diminishes performance in mathematics and verbal tests, results for high-stakes university exams remain mixed due to varying levels of student preparedness. Beyond academic scores, the studies indicate that prolonged heat exposure can lead to increased absenteeism and lower school completion rates. Mediating factors like gender, socio-economic status, and classroom infrastructure further complicate these impacts, suggesting that vulnerable populations face the greatest risks. Ultimately, the authors advocate for climate-resilient school infrastructure and social safety nets to protect the educational progress of children in warming climates.
 
This Rest is Climate podcast draw on the recently published article from the Climate Risk Lab in Environmental Research Communications, "The potential effects of heat extremes on educational outcomes of children in low- and middle-income countries: A systematic review", https://doi.org/10.1088/25157620/ae6037 

 
这项由气候风险实验室和中国研究人员共同开展的研究，对中国39处世界文化遗产进行了全面的气候风险评估，涵盖148处具体遗址及其保护缓冲区。该研究结合专家见解和未来气候预测，揭示了到21世纪末，几乎所有被评估的遗址都将面临中度至极度风险，原因是气温上升和降水强度增加。数据尤其凸显了古代建筑结构的脆弱性，例如五台山，它们极易受到极端降雨和冻融循环的影响而发生物质退化。除了这些标志性地标之外，作者还强调，数以千计鲜为人知的遗产遗址仍未得到保护，记录不足，面临着全球变暖带来的更大威胁。因此，该研究呼吁迫切需要从被动保护转向积极的适应策略，包括采用基于自然的解决方案和建立数字化清单。这种系统性的筛选是优先分配保护资源、确保中国丰富文化遗产长期传承的重要工具。
本期“气候影响下的遗产保护”播客重点介绍了Lei等人于2026年发表在《npj Heritage Science》上的研究成果：《中国世界文化遗产地的气候风险评估》（https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-026-02512-9
 

This research from the Climate Risk Lab and researchers in China provides a comprehensive climate risk assessment for 39 of China’s Cultural World Heritage properties, encompassing 148 specific sites and their protective buffer zones. By integrating expert insights with future climate projections, the study reveals that nearly all examined locations will face moderate to extreme risk by the late 21st century due to rising temperatures and intensified precipitation. The data specifically highlight the vulnerability of Ancient Architectural Structures, such as Mount Wutai, which are particularly susceptible to material degradation from extreme rainfall and freeze-thaw cycles. Beyond these flagship landmarks, the authors emphasise that thousands of lesser-known heritage sites remain unprotected and under-documented, facing even greater peril from a warming world. Consequently, the text advocates for an urgent shift from passive preservation to active adaptation strategies, including the use of nature-based solutions and digital inventories. This systematic screening serves as a vital tool for prioritising conservation resources to ensure the long-term survival of China’s extensive cultural legacy.This Rest is Climate Podcast highlights the findings of Lei et al., 2026. Climate risk assessment of Cultural World Heritage Sites in China, npj Heritage Science, https://doi.org/10.1038/s40494-026-02512-9

The Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative (GAMI) serves as a pioneering framework for synthesising worldwide climate change adaptation data, originally established to support major international assessments like the IPCC 6th Assessment Report. Through a reflective survey of 59 participating researchers, this source evaluates the project's impact, reliability, and procedural feasibility, noting significant success in community-building and policy influence. The analysis highlights a critical trade-off between broad global coverage and local contextual depth, while also identifying geographic and linguistic biases inherent in relying solely on English-language academic journals. To address these limitations, the authors recommend integrating grey literature and diverse knowledge systems to ensure a more equitable representation of adaptation efforts. Furthermore, the source advocates for the strategic adoption of machine learning and natural language processing to manage the expanding volume of climate research through hybrid human-AI workflows. Ultimately, these findings provide a foundational roadmap for "GAMI 2.0," aiming to create a more inclusive, real-time evidence base for global climate policy.
This podcast draws on the recently article published in the Nature family journal Communications Sustainability, 'Ways forward for global adaptation evidence synthesis building on the global adaptation mapping initiative', https://doi.org/10.1038/s44458-026-00071-5