A Road to Action for Decision-Makers

Transforming resilience science into real-world strategies

With global temperatures still rising and disruption becoming the new normal, we need real, practical solutions for resilience and adaptation. The good news is there is a wealth of research on resilience. But much of it is unknown for decision-makers or hard for them to apply in practice. On top of that, resilience is often misunderstood as just ‘bouncing back’ from tragedy. But true resilience means adapting, transforming, and thriving in the face of change.

Resilience Science Must-Knows fills this gap by distilling the most critical insights on resilience science into action-driven guidelines that support decision-makers with real-world implementation strategies. By integrating clear, consistent insights into practical guidance, this initiative helps drive meaningful system-wide change in adaptation and transformation at all levels.

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The Resilience Science Must-Knows is a collaboration between Future Earth, the Stockholm Resilience Centre, and the Global Resilience Partnership.

1. Resilience Science Must-Knows: Identifying system gaps & priorities

A concise, science-based synthesis of the most critical resilience science insights, curated through a global consultation with over 200 scientists, complemented by a thorough literature analysis – all overseen by an Editorial Board consisting of leading resilience scientists that: 

  • Identifies what are the resilience Must-Knows that can aid decision-makers in addressing pressing global challenges. The consultation process includes scholars from a range of fields and sectors (e.g., finance, disaster risk reduction, socio-ecological, equity/justice, psychological and environmental, among others)
  • Uses an independent, scientifically-rigorous process that benefits from a well-tested framework pioneered by  Future Earth since 2017 that has successfully supported global climate and biodiversity frameworks. 
  • Hosts workshops with industry leaders to refine Resilience Must-Knows, making them practical and actionable.
  • Identifies system gaps that hinder resilience implementation and action.

2. Resilience Road to Action: Turning knowledge into system-wide change

A practical guide providing decision-makers with clear, actionable steps to implement resilience strategies based on the Must-Knows that will be:

  • Developed in collaboration with experts and practitioners to equip decision-makers with implementable strategies for their respective domains and solve existing pain-points;
  • Structured to align with real-world decision-making processes  (e.g., UNFCCC NAPs and NDCs, corporate commitments, sustainability reporting, risk assessments, etc.);
  • Engaging leaders across sectors and scales to drive action through tailored strategies and case studies,  fostering a powerful community of leaders.

Benefitting from an engaged and vibrant  Resilience Hub community that spans more than 200 organisations across sectors, scales and geographies and has delivered over 10,000 engaged participants at each UNFCCC COP since COP 26.

Why this matters: The value-add for decision-makers

  • A single, go-to resource for action – Cut through the noise. Gain access to a clear, concise, science-backed resource that distills the key insights into a cohesive, actionable framework.
  • Shape the future of resilience – Be at the forefront of defining resilience agenda, ensuring that adaptation and resilience strategies reflect real-world priorities. 
  • Lead with influence – Elevate your leadership by not only adopting resilience strategies but also championing their implementation. Position yourself as a driving force behind transformative adaptation efforts.
  • The right people, the right conversations – Gain a seat at the table with decision-makers from science, policy, finance, and business in high-impact workshops designed to drive collaboration and create real solutions.
  • Break barriers, drive system-level impact – Go beyond incremental change. Identify and tackle the structural roadblocks preventing resilience solutions from taking hold, ensuring lasting, scalable impact across industries and regions.

How it works: A collaborative process at a glance

Join the Road to Action

This is more than a report—it’s a movement to ensure resilience and adaptation science translates into action and impact. It continues well beyond COP30 to inform policy, investments, and cross-sector-collaboration.  

Be part of shaping the future of resilience. Let’s turn science into action – together.