
Climate change is a central part of IDRC’s programming. We believe research is crucial to any successful, long-term plan to mitigate the effects of climate change on the world’s most vulnerable. This is why, as an official UNFCCC observer agency, IDRC supports innovations that will help people and communities adapt to climate change.
Together with our grantees and partners, IDRC is participating in a range of activities during COP25, including special events, expert panels, workshops, and the 17th edition of the popular Development and Climate Days (D&C Days). More than 20 IDRC-supported researchers and partner organizations will share their work, highlighting how research investments foster innovation in climate adaptation, inform resilient and sustainable urban planning, and contribute to evidence-based policy development.
Building a resilient future for all means taking lasting action on climate change today — join the conversation on-site at COP25 or on social media.
- IDRC activities at COP25
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Capacity-building hub sessions
December 4–11 | UNFCCC Pavilion, Blue ZoneIDRC is participating in and co-hosting several sessions during this year’s hub, hosted by the Paris Committee on Capacity-building (PCCB). The hub at COP25 is designed to represent a rich diversity of voices, experiences, and topics relevant to climate-related capacity building. Established at COP24, the capacity-building hub is a space for representation, collaboration, and knowledge sharing.
Capacity-building knowledge to action day
Friday, December 6 | UNFCCC Pavilion, Blue ZoneIDRC has partnered with PCCB to lead the capacity-building knowledge to action day (CBK2A Day). This year’s CBK2A Day is designed to strengthen the engagement of universities and research institutions in producing relevant knowledge and translating that knowledge into effective climate action at the national and sub-national levels. See the full agenda here.
9:00–11:00 am: Key messages and next steps
2:00–4:00 pm: Mobilizing research institutions and universities for climate action
5:30–7:00 pm: Lessons learned from practice
Local governments and cities day
Saturday, December 7 | UNFCCC Pavilion, Blue Zone12:00–1:00 pm: City-level capacity-building for climate action
6:15–7:15 pm: Youth capacity-building in urban contexts
Capacity-building talks
Wednesday, December 11 | UNFCCC Pavilion, Blue Zone3:25–3:55: Science policy dialogues for greater climate action: Raising ambition and knowledge to action
Development and Climate Days 2019
9:00 am–6:30 pm | Sunday, December 8 | Hilton Madrid Airport
Development & Climate (D&C) Days are held each year alongside the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This 17th annual D&C Days event will look to 2020, when countries are due to report on how they will meet their commitments under the Paris Agreement. Throughout the event, we will consider how transformation of systems, gender equity, lived experience and local knowledge, and transparency and downward accountability can help deliver a resilient future.
D&C Days 2019 is organized through partnership between IDRC, the Red Cross Red Crescent Climate Centre, the International Institute for Environment and Development, EIT Climate-KIC, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the Global Resilience Partnership, United Nations Disaster Risk Reduction, and the V20/G20 InsuResilience Global Partnership for Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance.
IDRC partner and grantee events
Integrating territorial information into local climate change adaptation processes in Latin America
Tuesday, December 3 | 12:00 – 1:00 pm | Chile PavilionStrengthening the participation of French-speaking African countries in climate negotiations and implementation of the Paris Agreement
Wednesday, December 4 | 1:00 – 2:30 pm | IFDD PavilionClimate Adaptation policies: closing the knowledge-action gap in Latin America
Wednesday, December 4 | 4:00 – 5:15 pm | Brazil HubPublic private partnerships for nationally-determined contribution enhancement and implementation
Thursday, December 5 | Time TBC | NDC PavilionClimate adaptation action
Thursday, December 5 | 3:00–5:00 pm | India PavilionMulti-Stakeholder Driven Climate Action: The Role of Women and Marginalised Communities
Monday, December 9 | 10:30 am – 12:00 pm | India PavilionAddressing adaptation knowledge gaps in the Latin American Region
Monday, December 9 | 4:45–6:45 pm | Blue Zone, Room 3Mainstreaming of gender in national adaptation planning and implementation
Tuesday, December 10 | Time & Location TBCIncorporating gender, intercultural and intergenerational approaches in climate action
Wednesday, December 11 | 5:30–7:00 pm | Euroclima Pavilion
How we work: Investing in research for adaptation and resilience
IDRC is a pioneer and key funder of climate adaptation research for developing countries. Our climate programming focuses on practical, evidence-backed solutions to:
- increase the climate resilience of small and medium cities;
- facilitate innovation in the emerging field of climate finance; and
- empower women and marginalized people as agents of change.
Climate finance
Mobilizing the private sector to support adaptation

The resources required to address global adaptation are immense. IDRC invests in research on innovative financing mechanisms to mobilize the private sector — a promising strategy to improve productivity, scale up success, and foster resilience.
Urban resilience
Helping vulnerable city dwellers adapt to climate change

As cities expand they face correspondingly greater pressure to deal with climate-related hazards and extreme events. IDRC identifies, develops, tests, and shares strategies across the Global South to help cities cope and to improve citizens’ lives.
Gender and social equity
Promoting inclusion to enhance climate resilience for all

The effects of climate change have the greatest impact on women, youth, Indigenous peoples, ethnic minorities, and the poor. IDRC supports inclusive solutions to empower marginalized communities and to enhance the climate resilience of vulnerable people throughout the Global South.