28 November 2025 (ANN): At the 30th Conference of the Parties (COP30) in Brazil this November, delegates and experts emphasized a shift from high-level climate commitments to practical, community-centered implementation. A series of discussions placed Locally Led Adaptation (LLA) at the forefront, underscoring its potential to reshape how climate and development research are conducted.

The International Rice Research Institute (IRRI) participated prominently in four LLA-focused dialogues, with Principal Scientist Dr. Jon Hellin presenting on ways to strengthen community decision-making, advance gender equity, and improve access to adaptation finance.

A session titled “Locally led climate adaptation: a ‘business unusual’ agenda for research and development,” participants examined the gap between growing support for LLA and its comparatively limited application. Speakers noted that while LLA principles are well established, the challenge lies in translating them into practice.

Positioning LLA within broader efforts toward transformative adaptation, Dr. Hellin said that achieving sustainable and equitable climate resilience requires approaches led by local communities. He added that researchers and development organizations must offer clear strategies for operationalizing LLA in order to attract the financing for which there is already substantial interest.

The session highlighted several emerging methods aimed at advancing LLA. These included Living Labs, which create real-world environments for local innovation; Positive Deviance Approaches, which identify and support early-adopting farmers who are already adapting successfully; and Community-Based Adaptation planning, which integrates community-driven climate plans into local government budgets to ensure long-term implementation.

In another panel discussion – “Equitable Pathways for Adaptation Finance,” that explored how climate impacts intersect with social inequities and funding access, panellists discussed the need for adaptation strategies that go beyond infrastructure investments to incorporate equity and social protection. Dr. Hellin outlined institutional partnerships that have strengthened local data systems and shared lessons from interdisciplinary approaches that address mitigation, adaptation, and resilience simultaneously.

Despite rising international recognition of LLA, participants noted persistent barriers, particularly in financing and data availability. Addressing gaps in hyperlocal climate and livelihood information was identified as essential for designing effective adaptation investments.
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