Beyond the mitigation-adaptation binary: How funders can embrace the resilience continuum

Climate resilience means the ability of people and systems not just to survive climate shocks, but to adapt, transform, and thrive in the face of them. Mitigation and adaptation are often approached as a binary, instead they should be seen as part of a continuum of actions that can serve both goals at once.

Clinging to the binary limits funding, reinforces silos, and underestimates the complexity of real-world climate solutions. In some parts of the world, the worst has already arrived—there is no longer time to mitigate or adapt, so viewing action on a resilience continuum is increasingly important.

From community-led adaptation training to training young people to map their local flood-risk areas, real climate resilience is already happening. It isoften led by those most impacted, but least funded.

We were proud to have worked on this Alliance Magazine alongside Climate and Development Knowledge Network and SouthSouthNorth with contributions from Ameil Harikishun, George Harding-Rolls, Dr Nadia Sitas, Charlotte Phatsimo Rahman, Rosine Uwineza, Sarah Farrell, and Dr. Shehnaaz Moosa.

Impatience Earth & SouthSouthNorth are bringing together a community of funders committed to just and equitable climate action. This journey is a space to learn, collaborate, and take action, ensuring climate resilience funding is more effective and responsive to real needs. It is offered free of charge (excluding travel costs) and will be developed subject to demand.