Christchurch NZ Hosts International Climate Adaptation Summit

Christchurch, New Zealand, will host the most significant and foremost international climate adaptation event this October.

The 8th International Adaptation Future (AF2025) is a biannual and flagship event of the United Nations’ World Adaptation Science Programme (WASP). It will be co-hosted by WASP and Te Whare Wānanga o Waitaha | University of Canterbury, Christchurch, from 13 to 16 October 2025.

This year’s conference will convene practitioners, policymakers, researchers, and academics worldwide to network, collaborate, learn, and inspire. It will emphasise the issues affecting the Pacific and Indigenous peoples.

Panels will discuss Indigenous leadership; the impacts of climate change on the Pacific and developing countries; how insurance will be tested; and the impacts on finance, loss, and damage concerning climate adaptation. Masterclasses will also take place, featuring state-of-the-art responses to climate risk.

Ngāi Tahu leader Lisa Tumahai, co-patron of the event, highlighted the importance of Indigenous voices in shaping climate policy: “Our people have been adapting for generations, and our leadership in climate adaptation is a continuation of that history. It is important that Indigenous peoples are part of decision making and are influencing policy on adaptation now and in the future” (World’s largest, 2025).

AF2025 co-convenor Professor Bronwyn Hayward of the University of Canterbury highlights the urgency of adapting to climate change. She said, “As the impacts of climate change affect more and more communities, economies and biodiversity, we must scale up our global efforts to protect vulnerable communities, businesses, and environments” (Pacific and Indigenous, 2025).

“Adaptation Futures brings together thought leaders for greater global action, while also looking at how climate change affects Indigenous and Pacific communities, and their innovation and leadership in adapting to mitigate these risks” (Pacific and Indigenous, 2025).

“At a time of great uncertainty and challenges in many parts of the world, we are heartened by the way people have come together to accelerate adaptation for a more climate-resilient and fairer future” (Pacific and Indigenous, 2025).

The Adaptation Futures conference has previously been held in Montreal, Canada (2023); New Delhi, India (2020); Cape Town, South Africa (2018); Rotterdam, Netherlands (2016); Fortaleza, Ceará, Brazil (2014); Arizona, USA (2012); and Queensland, Australia (2010).

Click the link to learn more about the Adaptation Futures 2025 Event in October 2025.

IMAGE CREDIT: Adaptation Futures 2025