Resilience Science Must-Knows

This fact sheet outlines nine fundamental principles of resilience science designed for decision-makers and implementers to build evidence-based systemic resilience. It defines resilience as the capacity to live and thrive amidst change and uncertainty through coping, adapting, and transforming, emphasizing that human prosperity depends on the stability of the Earth system and planetary boundaries.

• Resilience is defined as more than recovering to a previous state; it is the ability to live and develop during uncertainty and change, requiring the capacities to cope, adapt, and transform. This perspective recognizes the interconnection between humans and nature, asserting that a just and equitable world is only possible within planetary boundaries.
• The 'Resilience Science Must-Knows' are a set of nine principles developed through a global research effort involving expert surveys, literature reviews, and consultations with decision-makers. These principles highlight that resilience is essential for facing accelerating risks and that investing in it now reduces future costs by protecting social, economic, and ecological foundations.
• Systemic resilience relies on several critical drivers: diversity (including biodiversity and diverse knowledge systems), strong relationships between people and nature, and the capacity for continuous learning and innovation. Diversity specifically provides multiple response options and sources of innovation for adaptation and transformation.
• Achieving equitable resilience requires active governance of trade-offs across different scales and generations to prevent conflict. Furthermore, it is essential to strengthen agency—the capacity to act intentionally—and directly address historical injustices, power imbalances, and social inequalities to avoid reinforcing systems that create vulnerability.

APA

Global Resilience Partnership (n.d.). Resilience Science Must-Knows. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/rsmk_2pager_pt.pdf

Chicago

Global Resilience Partnership. Resilience Science Must-Knows. n.d. https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/rsmk_2pager_pt.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Resilience Partnership |title=Resilience Science Must-Knows |url=https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/rsmk_2pager_pt.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalresiliencepartnershipndresilience, author = {{Global Resilience Partnership}}, title = {{Resilience Science Must-Knows}}, institution = {Global Resilience Partnership}, url = {https://www.globalresiliencepartnership.org/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/rsmk_2pager_pt.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }