News

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)

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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-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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.