Tackling climate change requires a detailed understanding of the climate system and the rapid scale-up of solutions to cut emissions across the economy and enable our society to effectively adapt to the impacts of a warming climate.

To this end, the Grantham Institute regularly engages with the policy community and a wide range of stakeholders to ensure the best available evidence on climate science and solutions can inform decisions on climate action and to enable a better understanding within the academic community of the emerging questions faced by decision-makers and practitioners.  

You can find out about our thematic priorities and activities in the section below.
 
The Grantham Institute also co-chairs the UK Universities Climate Network, which brings together members from the academic community to advance climate action. 

Related outputs

Background briefing

The cost-effectiveness of a renewables energy system compared to fossil fuels

Event

Countdown to COP29: Raising Global Ambition on the Road to Baku

Report

General Election 2024: Climate change priorities for the next UK government

Our thematic priorities

Climate science for policymakers

Policymakers need to be informed about the state of the climate, how human activity is affecting it, and the possible future outcomes that we might experience.

This thematic area unpacks the latest scientific evidence and understanding on the Earth’s climate system, human-caused greenhouse gas emissions, warming effects, extreme weather and other impacts.

How climate action can improve health and strengthen the economy

Climate action can help to tackle other key challenges faced by society such as supporting efforts to improve health, create jobs and reduce inequality. This thematic area draws out the evidence base for the wider set of benefits that climate action can deliver, alongside insights of what the public think about such win-win opportunities.

Promoting action on adaptation

People, communities and the economy all face significant risks from climate change but action on adaptation to date has fallen far short of what is needed.

This thematic area aims to facilitate dialogue and knowledge exchange between policymakers and researchers to accelerate real-world action on adaptation.

Turning ambition into real world action on emission reductions

Achieving the Paris Agreement temperature goals requires a significant scale-up in action by national and subnational actors to move away from polluting activities and rollout clean alternatives across the economy.

This thematic area aims to build understanding amongst decision-makers and wider stakeholders around effective solutions to drive real world emission cuts.

Strengthening policy engagement across the UK climate research community  

The UK Universities Climate Network (UUCN) is a growing group of academics and professional staff from over 90 UK universities and research centres, co-ordinated by the Grantham Institute. The network fosters collaboration across the UK academic sector to amplify and maximise the impact of climate change research expertise nationally and internationally.  

We have been a focal point for UK academic representation at COP26, COP27 and COP28. We also promote engagement with UK policymakers, foster climate innovation and entrepreneurship, work with key education sector stakeholders to explore opportunities for long-term strategies on skills for a net zero and resilient future, and share best practice on driving forward climate action on our own campuses. 

Mobilising the academic community to advance global action on climate and nature  

Each year, the Grantham Institute mobilises Imperial’s academic community around United Nations (UN) climate change and nature conferences. This includes the Conference of the Parties (COP) to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the UN Climate Change Conference. Imperial delegations actively participate as official observers – engaging with key global stakeholders to share evidence for ambitious action and connecting with research partners and a wide range of stakeholders from around the world to advance critical knowledge on climate change and nature.

Further resources

Climate change FAQs: causes, impacts and action

Covering evidence and information on climate science, the economics of climate change, international climate action and the meaning of a just transition.

Background briefings

Our background briefings provide summaries of policy-relevant scientific evidence on climate change science, solutions and co-benefits, highlighting the implications for decision makers and other stakeholders seeking to take action on climate. 

Publications

Includes all of our full publications, academic research, and evidence and submission papers. 

Events

Explore our events, which bring together policymakers, experts and members of the public on key climate issues. 

Find out more

Contact:
Dr Caterina Brandmayr
Director of Policy and Translation
c.brandmayr@imperial.ac.uk