21 Aug Networking and Learning at the What Works Climate Solutions Summit in Germany
Written by Divyanshi Vyas
Edited by Sofia Juliet Rajan
I recently had the incredible opportunity to attend and present at the What Works Climate Solutions Summit,a conference on evidence-based climate policy, held in Berlin from June 9–12, 2024. Not only was this my first international conference, but it was also my first trip to Germany!
The conference aimed to promote and spark discussions on climate solutions, especially for the upcoming IPCC’s 7th Assessment Report and other scientific policy advice. We explored evidence synthesis methodologies that are crucial to inform effective climate change action. More than 300 participants from 50 countries looked into themes such as cities, health, climate policy evaluation and land use.
My colleague Chandni Singh, who was part of the Scientific Steering Committee, accompanied me. She was a speaker on the plenary panel titled, “The Global Adaptation Tracking Initiative – Challenges & Opportunities”, alongside Tabea Lissner, Portia Williams, and Jennifer Verma. Chandni discussed the idea of GAMI 2.0 (a successor of the Global Adaptation Mapping Initiative), emphasising the need for a diverse group of experts covering various sectors, especially to assess the effectiveness of adaptation initiatives. She also presented work from the Climate change Local Adaptation Pathways (CLAPs) project, titled “Migration as Successful Adaptation? Examining Research, Policy, and Media Evidence.”
It was truly inspiring to listen to world-leading thinkers from the climate change and evidence synthesis communities. They discussed how evidence can inform science and policymaking,focusing on three major goals:
What works? Conducting rigorous evidence synthesis across disciplines to examine climate solutions, necessary for evidence-based policy and the IPCC’s 7th assessment cycle.
Building evidence synthesis capacity: Providing access to high-quality training in and funding for rigorous evidence synthesis, extending beyond European/North American institutions.
Communicating change: Promoting cross-institutional and transdisciplinary dialogues for evidence synthesis in research, policy, and practice.
At the summit, I presented IIHS’s ongoing research during the session on “Climate Risks and Adaptation in Cities”. My presentation was a systematic literature review on the effectiveness of heat risk management strategies in South Asian cities. This review aims to fill critical gaps in understanding the effectiveness of various heat management interventions across India. Grounded in the PRISMA guidelines, our review evaluates interventions ranging from nature-based solutions to infrastructural adaptations, assessing their impacts on reducing heat stress and enhancing urban resilience.
Beyond the Summit
The conference was not just about presentations and panels. It was an incredible opportunity to meet people from different countries and learn about their work. I finally got to meet colleagues like Jack de Waard at Population Council and Tucker Landesman at International Institute for Environment and Development (IIED), whom I’ve been working with remotely. I also had the chance to listen to experts whose work I have been reading, such as Prof. Lorraine Whitmarsh from University of Bath. Her research on using health as a nudge for behaviour change in the transportation sector was pivotal for my Master’s thesis last year.
Despite the packed schedule, I found time to explore Berlin on a walking tour. Berlin is a city steeped in history and, as my tour guide put it, “the trendiest and hottest city in the world, open to everything and everyone.” I soaked up the intricate architectural details and even spotted some adaptation actions happening on the ground. For example, the Gendarmenmarkt 2.0 project (see image below) aims to create a climate-friendly, barrier-free event space with sustainable rainwater management and underground infrastructure.
Evidence Accelerator Training
After the summit, I attended a two-day Evidence Accelerator Training at TU Berlin, focusing on methodologies for evidence synthesis. Each day was packed with workshops tailored to participants working on systematic reviews and evidence maps.On Day 1, we were introduced to foundational concepts such as protocol development, systematic searches, and formulating answerable research questions. Day 2 featured specialised tracks on evidence mapping, mixed methods synthesis, and quantitative meta-analysis. We had the opportunity to work on the protocol for our own evidence gap map or systematic review. I chose to proceed with quantitative meta-analysis with the guidance of Wolfgang Viechtbauer, a statistician and associate professor at Maastricht University.
During the meta-analysis training, we learned about study design, how to extract data, and different methods to combine study results. We also looked into how to detect and handle biases in research. Wolfgang’s hands-on approach, blending lectures with computer exercises, provided practical experience in analysing datasets. This training was incredibly enriching and has equipped me with valuable skills for future research.
Participating in the What Works Climate Solutions Summit and Evidence Accelerator training was a profound learning experience. It reinforced the importance of evidence-based approaches in addressing complex urban challenges exacerbated by climate change. Moving forward, I am excited to apply these insights to contribute meaningfully to climate-resilient urban development in the Global South and beyond.