News | African Climate and Development Initiative

ACDI Reflections from COP30: Adaptation Decisions, and Youth Leadership

ACDI delegates returned from COP30 in Belém, Brazil with powerful insights into a climate summit defined by both technical progress and the lived realities of climate change in the Amazon.

ACDI researchers shape South Africa's new National Climate Plan

Researchers from the ACDI and the Energy Systems Research Group (ESRG) at the University of Cape Town have delivered the core scientific and economic evidence informing South Africa’s second Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC2)

South Africa’s G20 presidency is over – what did it achieve for climate and clean energy in Africa?

Britta Rennkamp examines South Africa's G20 presidency and the progress towards sustainable energy in Africa.

Prof Mark New awarded Mathieu Rouault Medal

Professor Mark New has been awarded the Mathieu Rouault Medal by the South African Society for Atmospheric Sciences (SASAS) in recognition of his outstanding contributions to climate and atmospheric sciences in Africa.

ACDI researchers to showcase actionable climate research at Adaptation Futures 2025

Researchers from the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) will participate in Adaptation Futures 2025, one of the leading international conferences on climate adaptation.

UCT climate scientist on 2025 Forbes Sustainability Leaders list

Dr Romaric C Odoulami, a researcher with the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) at the University of Cape Town (UCT), has been named among the 2025 Forbes Sustainability Leaders.

Workshop lays groundwork for new Climate Action Innovation Lab

ACDI convened a collaborative workshop to explore the development of a proposed Climate Action Innovation Lab (CAILab). The session, brought together a diverse group from Cape Town’s climate ecosystem to shape this emerging concept.

Nick Simpson participates in IPCC Special Report on Climate Change and Cities Lead Author meeting

Dr Nicholas Simpson, co-Director of the Climate Risk Lab, played a key role in the Second Lead Author Meeting of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Special Report on Climate Change and Cities

African citizens expect governments to lead on climate action, study finds

Climate Risk Lab researchers contribute to continent-wide analysis of public perceptions of climate responsibility

Climate x Sport: Building resilience through play

In June 2025, Cape Town played host to a unique international gathering that brought together two seemingly distinct worlds: climate science and sport, convened by the Climate Risk Lab.

ACDI researcher joins UNFCCC Global Goal on Adaptation talks in Bonn

Climate Risk Lab researcher Luckson Zvobgo participated in the recent Global Goal on Adaptation (GGA) discussions at the June Climate Meetings (SB 62nd Session) in Bonn.

UCT highlights rights and climate justice globally

ACDI participates in the Right Here, Right Now Global Climate Summit on 5 June. This global 24-hour event brought together institutions from across the world to address the intersection of climate change and human rights.

ACDI launches new strategy for impact

ACDI launches new strategy for impact, advancing climate change and development research through African-led research, capacity development and collaboration

UCT project addresses heat risks in vulnerable communities

ACDI-based research project, Heat Adaptation Benefits for Vulnerable groups In Africa (HABVIA), recently participated in the HeatNexus convening, highlighting its work on heat adaptation in vulnerable communitie

Precious Chidanyika, Nadine Nyamangirazi, and Danjelle Midgley at the 2024 SDG Summer School in Geneva.

UCT students excel at SDG Summer School and Olympiad

Three University of Cape Town (UCT) students, supported by the ALBATROSS Project, have made a significant impact at the 2024 SDG Summer School in Geneva and the subsequent SDG Olympiad in Paris.

BLOG: Bridging the Gap Between Climate Risk Recognition and Action in South Africa’s Agro-Food Sector

Koaile Monaheng, ACDI Master student, highlights his research into the gap between climate risk recognition and action in South Africa’s Agro-Food Sector.

Women’s Month: Floods expose plight, pain of ‘powerless’ Khayelitsha women

UCT newsroom sat down with ACDI's Palesa Base to discuss her latest research paper, which honed in on adverse weather and unpacked the plight of women living in Khayelitsha during flood events.

Evaluating the application of design thinking and systems thinking for climate adaptation and resilience

The Design for Climate Solutions (D4CS) Programme is a pilot initiative that aims to foster co-creation and innovations that address climate adaptation and resilience challenges.

ACDI Film Festival Screening Event Highlighted the Impacts of Climate Change

In October 2023, the African Climate and Development Initiative (ACDI) hosted a special screening of the 2023 Africa Human Rights Film Festival.

Experts lead webinar on land surface modelling for nature-based solutions

The TES NbS project and the UK Centre for Ecology & Hydrology (UKCEH), recently spearheaded a webinar and workshop introducing state-of-the-art land surface modelling methodologies and their relevance to nature-based solutions.

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Understanding the role of nature-based adaptation in human mobility and immobility

Research led by Nicholas Simpson, along with a team at UCT’s ACDI, emphasises the urgent need for a comprehensive study on how climate change impacts mobility.

What climate change means for South Africa and its people

A new climate change impact synthesis report titled, “Climate change impacts in South Africa: What climate change means for a country and its people”, highlights the impacts of climate change on South Africa.

Joint professorships and fellowships awarded to UCT and UoB scholars

Two University of Cape Town (UCT) scholars have been awarded joint professorships and fellowships to work with academics at the University of Bristol (UoB) and create opportunities for deep collaborative research.

Highlighting stories of social (in)equity in nature-based solutions

The TES NbS project recently released a compilation of stories from across Africa that highlight factors that constrain or enable social equity in nature-based solutions.

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