Innovations in Climate Resilience: Reflecting on My Experience at ICR24 

Last week, I had the pleasure of participating in the 3rd Innovations in Climate Resilience (ICR) conference, an event dedicated to addressing the existential threats of climate change through technological, policy, and infrastructural innovations. The conference brought together a community aimed at creating a brighter, more resilient future in the face of climate change. 

The technical program featured a mix of opening sessions, platform talks, breakout sessions, and evening poster sessions designed to explore breakthroughs across several domains critical to climate resilience. As someone deeply invested in the intersection of conservation and community impact, ICR24 was a terrific opportunity to exchange ideas and learn about the latest advancements in the field. 

My session, “Translating Climate Science into Effective Policy & Community Acceptance,” included the crucial role of community well-being in climate initiatives, particularly within natural climate solutions (NCS). I presented OneNature’s work on integrating community well-being frameworks into voluntary and regulatory carbon credit standards 

During my presentation, I discussed the often-overlooked social dimensions of carbon offset schemes. These projects are not just about balancing carbon books but fostering long-term relationships built on trust, mutual benefits, and genuine understanding between project implementers and community members. I stressed how traditional project metrics, while necessary, often fail to capture the full spectrum of community impacts, leading to a legitimacy crisis in carbon offsets. Our proposed Well-being Framework addresses these gaps by incorporating holistic and participatory approaches to ensure that interventions are beneficial, sustainable, and inclusive.  

The response from the audience was positive, and several people at the conference expressed interest in how they could apply these principles to their projects. Engaging with experts who are equally passionate about climate resilience provided fresh perspectives and innovative ideas that will undoubtedly influence our work at OneNature.  

By measuring and managing the impact of projects on community well-being, we can create more effective, adaptable, and accepted climate solutions that are not only technically sound but also socially equitable. 

For more information on our approach and to join our efforts, please feel free to reach out. Together, we can forge a path toward a sustainable and equitable future, one project at a time.