Prepare your abstract to shape the Cape Town agenda
* Update on 20 Sep 2026: we have extended the submission deadline and timeline for communication of acceptance. The revised timings are reflected below and no further extensions are planned.
Today, the What Works Climate Solutions (WWCS) Summit 2027 launches its call for abstracts, inviting the global evidence community to help shape the agenda in Cape Town. The climate crisis does not wait — and neither can the evidence needed to tackle it.
The second edition of the WWCS Summit — the leading conference for evidence-based climate policy and practice — will be hosted by ASCEND (African Synthesis Centre for Climate Change, Environment and Development) at the University of Cape Town, 13–16 April 2027. Building on the inaugural Berlin summit, which drew more than 330 participants from 50 countries in 2024, Cape Town deepens the community’s commitment to Global South leadership in evidence-based climate action.
We invite researchers, evaluators, data scientists, decision-makers and practitioners to submit proposals for 15-minute talks, 90-minute organised sessions, or posters. We welcome rigorous, real-world evidence of what works in climate policy and practice, with a preference for robust empirical evaluations over purely theoretical frameworks or proposed technological solutions.
Submissions are invited across seven focus themes — intentionally broad, and not exclusive:
- Climate policy and practice interventions: real-world effectiveness of implemented mitigation, adaptation, and loss and damage policy and practice
- Climate policy and practice in the Global South: including the informal sector, vulnerable communities, science-policy translation, technology sharing and climate finance
- Evidence into decision-making and action: how findings are used to influence decision-making, including approaches to engaging relevant stakeholders
- Co-effects of climate policies and practice: socio-economic, environmental and equity impacts, positive and negative
- Climate and health: interventions at the intersection of climate change, public health systems and community resilience
- Climate and food systems: interventions that mitigate the climate impact of food systems and/or build their resilience to climate change
- Climate solutions for cities: sustainable infrastructure, planning, governance and financing for human settlements
Abstracts should be structured in three sections — Background / objectives; approach / methods; and results / conclusions (max 300 words in total) — and submitted in English via the portal by 29 September 2026, Anywhere on Earth*.
All submissions will undergo peer review overseen by the summit steering committee, with acceptance notifications by mid November 2026*.
We believe in the power of diverse teams to drive sustainable solutions, and encourage applications from all individuals regardless of background. Applicants from low and lower-middle income countries and early-career researchers are particularly encouraged to submit. Travel support — including visa assistance and potential stipends — is in development, with details to follow.
Read the full call:
whatworksclimate.solutions/summit-2027/call-for-abstracts
Submission portal:
summit2027.whatworksclimate.solutions
Questions:
info@wwcs.science
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