Transforming Agriculture for Climate Resilience: A Framework for Systemic Change

This working paper proposes a framework for 'transformative adaptation' in agriculture, moving beyond incremental adjustments to implement systemic changes—such as new technologies or shifted production locations—where climate impacts threaten the viability of current systems. It advocates for 'transformative pathways' (sequenced short- and medium-term actions) and 'decision windows' to guide this transition. The paper emphasizes that such shifts must be inclusive and equitable, requiring coordination between national governments, global institutions like the UNFCCC, and technical organizations such as the FAO and UNDP.

• Transformative adaptation for agriculture is defined as intentional responses to climate impacts that fundamentally alter agricultural systems, such as by introducing new production methods or technologies at scale, or significantly shifting the locations of production systems. This approach is necessary when climate impacts are so severe that they undermine the continued viability of current systems.
• The paper introduces 'transformative pathways,' which are coordinated sequences of short- and medium-term actions that enable agricultural systems to shift toward long-term resilience. These pathways can utilize 'decision windows'—points where planners use climate projections, crop models, and monitoring systems to determine when a system must move from incremental adjustments to systemic change.
• Implementing transformative adaptation requires a coordinated effort involving national and subnational governments, funding entities, and global institutions. Specifically, the paper suggests that the UNFCCC, through the Adaptation Committee, the Least Developed Countries Expert Group, and the Executive Committee of the Warsaw International Mechanism on Loss and Damage (WIM), could strengthen support for Parties to consider these approaches.
• Because transformative adaptation is subjective and can benefit some groups over others based on the distribution of decision-making power, it must be implemented in an inclusive, gender-responsive, and equitable manner. Planning must center the needs and constraints of the poorest and most vulnerable rural people and farmers.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). Transforming Agriculture for Climate Resilience: A Framework for Systemic Change. https://www.wri.org/research/transforming-agriculture-climate-resilience-framework-systemic-change

Chicago

World Resources Institute. Transforming Agriculture for Climate Resilience: A Framework for Systemic Change. n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/transforming-agriculture-climate-resilience-framework-systemic-change.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=Transforming Agriculture for Climate Resilience: A Framework for Systemic Change |url=https://www.wri.org/research/transforming-agriculture-climate-resilience-framework-systemic-change |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendtransforming, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{Transforming Agriculture for Climate Resilience: A Framework for Systemic Change}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/transforming-agriculture-climate-resilience-framework-systemic-change}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }