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Global Risks and Resilience

ODI’s Global Risks and Resilience programme promotes risk-informed development.
Hero image description: Complex risks Image credit:Steven Dickie Image license:© Steven Dickie

What we do

New and emerging global threats, from climate change to pandemics, are more complex and interconnected than ever before. If not handled effectively, these risks could completely alter our socio-economic, environmental, peace and security systems.

ODI’s Global Risks and Resilience programme promotes risk-informed development. Our international team of experts work with policymakers and businesses across different sectors and countries: supporting them to understand risks, acknowledge trade-offs, and build resilience in a rapidly changing world.

Our risk-informed development (RID) approach assesses complex threats, and helps development decisionmakers to understand the risks, opportunities, uncertainties and options they face. This foundational report explains the importance of RID, and why “only resilient development can become sustainable development".

Featured work

Small Islands Big Picture Podcast

Small Islands, Big Picture” is a new podcast from ODI and the Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI), which shines a spotlight on the unique challenges and remarkable resilience of Small Island Developing States (SIDS) around the world. It is hosted by RESI Directors Emily Wilkinson and Matthew Bishop.

Listen now

SIBP RESI website

Understanding transboundary climate risks

Climate change does not respect borders, yet transboundary climate risks remain a neglected topic of research and policy. The Global Risks and Resilience programme pioneers research into understanding these risks, as well as the impacts and trade-offs that the adaptation and mitigation actions of one country can create for other countries. Our evidence is used to advise institutions, policymaking bodies and others on how to work together to reduce risks and more effectively build climate resilient development.

Supporting resilient Small Island Developing States

Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face unique climate challenges. ODI’s global advisory network, the Resilient and Sustainable Islands Initiative (RESI), works with SIDS and their partners to build more resilient economies and societies, and achieve climate justice.

Reducing the conflict blind spot in climate finance

Building resilience to a changing climate is particularly important for people living in fragile and conflict affected situations (FCAS) as they face compounding and cascading risks from multiple threats – such as conflict and climate change. They are amongst the most vulnerable and least ready to adapt to climate change yet they receive the least in climate finance. Global Risks and Resilience supports decision-makers and key international processes, including the UN climate conferences, to increase the quality, quantity and effectiveness of climate finance to FCAS.

Adapting to a changing climate

Global Risks and Resilience generates research and advises decison-makers on effective, inclusive climate change adaptation. This includes promoting locally led and gender-responsive adaptation work, and understanding how nature-based solutions can be a key part of more sustainable development in a changing climate.

The geopolitics of connectivity

Interconnectivity and globalisation have transformed the way the world works. But while these changes have brought many benefits, they have also created threats which cross national borders, and which give rise to complex risks. Global Risks and Resilience supports decisionmakers to better understand the risks, opportunities and uncertainties they face, and the options they have to make more informed development decisions.

Understanding energy transitions

The transition from fossil fuel dependence to a low-carbon world is critical; it will also be difficult. Global Risks and Resilience supports businesses and decision-makers to navigate energy security concerns and possible development trade-offs related to the energy transition, and to make sure that renewable energy systems are resilient to rapidly changing threats.

China 2049

How China views and responds to global risks has significant relevance to world affairs. With its wealth of China expertise, Global Risks and Resilience generates in-depth analysis of how the country is addressing global challenges and risks: going beyond day-to-day coverage to provide reports, commentary, training and bespoke advisory services to a wide range of stakeholders.

Watch: 'China pressured to reduce its carbon emissions at global climate change summit'

"Yes, [China thinks] climate change is important, but energy security is more important... That resilience on coal as a transition fuel is going to stay in China's energy mix for the foreseeable future."

Director of Global Risks and Resilience, Dr. Rebecca Nadin, was interviewed for PBS News Hour at COP27 about China's climate and energy priorities.

Watch the interview here

View of rooftops and smokestacks, China.

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Follow us on Twitter to get our latest analysis on climate issues including adaptation, loss and damage, and more.

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Our team

All Global Risk and Resilience content

  1. Documentary | Climate Blueprint: Dominica

  2. Small Islands Big Picture episode 3: What are the distinctive challenges faced by small non-sovereign islands?

  3. Small Islands Big Picture episode 2: How can the UN Multidimensional Vulnerability Index help small island states?

  4. Small Islands Big Picture podcast

    Project

  5. Small Islands Big Picture episode 1: Why do small islands matter?

  6. Financing climate adaptation in fragile states: A case of Somalia

    Briefing/policy papers

  7. Barriers to addressing climate change-related losses and damages in low- and middle-income countries

    Other

  8. China’s investment in digital infrastructure along the Belt and Road

    Emerging analysis

  9. A global bargain for resilient prosperity in Small Island Developing States

    Briefing/policy papers

  10. Managing the geopolitical risks of Ukraine’s reconstruction: unlocking financial diplomacy

    Event

  11. Measuring adaptation and resilience: An annotated bibliography

    Other

  12. Making clean energy transtitions more inclusive: Evidence, knowledge gaps and policy options in low-income economies

    Briefing/policy papers

  13. How can Africa manage the transboundary climate risks it faces?

    Briefing/policy papers

  14. An African perspective on transboundary and cascading climate risks

    Briefing/policy papers

  15. Farming after fighting

    Research reports

  16. Policy Brief | Rapid assessment: Food and nutrition security in South Sudan

    Case/country studies

  17. Policy Brief | Rapid assessment: Food and nutrition security in Mali

    Case/country studies

  18. Policy Brief | Rapid assessment: Food and nutrition security in Somalia

    Case/country studies

Elsewhere on the web