Adaptation Futures 2018, the fifth in the Adaptation Futures international conference series on global adaptation, was held in Cape Town from 18 to 21 June. The conference aimed to facilitate dialogues for solutions between key actors from diverse perspectives and regions and attracted over 1300 scientists, practitioners, business leaders and policymakers from around the world. 183 sessions were held, including 160 innovative and participatory special sessions, designed and run by key stakeholder organisations.

This is the first time the conference was held on the African continent. We used this setting to foreground developing country adaptation issues and increase developing world participation. Funding was raised to support the access of over 180 sponsored delegates from lower income countries and/or Africa.

See the full programme of sessions AF18 sessions while the post conference session overviews can be found here, arranged by session number.

See all uploaded presentations here, arranged by session number.

See some of the photos here.

See the videos of 5 interviews and three plenary sessions here.

See the videos from the Community Kraal here: https://vimeo.com/album/5351446

Delegates were able to view the responses of local artists to the realities of climate change, as well as join in the Community Kraal, which focused on the lived experiences of climate change. The Adaptation Expo showcased the work of 24 organisations actively involved in responding to climate change. Over 130 volunteers from local based organisations contributed their time and skills to making the conference run smoothly.

Carbon offsets. Cconference delegates voluntarily offset 577tCO2e and contributed R69,232 to three projects supported by Credible Carbon.

Key messages from Adaptation Futures 2018

Adaptation is context specific.

It is vital to put adaptation in the context of people’s lives, taking a holistic view of all risks and existing trends.

To do: encourage practitioners and researcher interaction.

Increasing and improved monitoring and evaluation of adaptation is required.

Evaluation information is necessary to spread best practices, but also to know for whom adaptation is “working” and who is being left out. However, there is no one-size-fits-all set of indicators or methods to measure adaptation.

Inclusive governance is the basis of adaptation.

Devolution of authority or more inclusive governance elements can promote positive adaptation outcomes for the most vulnerable. “Communities” are not homogenous entities.

To do: ensure that research and projects acknowledges diversity and power dynamics within communities and households.

Adaptation needs local participation.

Best practices are bottom up, informed by models but not informed by local risk perceptions and priorities and include transparency, co-production, and trust.

To do: include vulnerable communities in all aspects of adaptation responses, from project planning to designing deliberative spaces where actors can continuously meet to discuss local adaptation efforts.

Don’t forget the most vulnerable

Marginalized groups, specifically, women, those without land rights, and people from minority religions, people living in conflict situations or under difficult governance conditions should not be passed over.

What is transformation and when is it positive?

This was a hot topic at Adaptation Futures 2018 and needs ongoing attention.