What Works Climate Solutions (WWCS) Summit in Cape Town, 13-16 April 2027

Join us for the second What Works Climate Solutions (WWCS) Summit in Cape Town, 13-16 April 2027. The climate crisis does not wait — and neither can the evidence needed to tackle it.

Building on the momentum of the inaugural summit in Berlin — which drew more than 330 participants, including researchers, policymakers, practitioners, and funders as the first international conference for evidence synthesis in climate policy — the Cape Town summit marks a new chapter. The WWCS Summit fosters evidence based policy, by bringing together researchers with backgrounds in meta-analysis, systematic reviews, policy evaluation, and the climate social sciences. MAER-Net members significantly contributed to the success of the inaugural summit and are warmly invited to shape the second edition.

The 2027 Summit will be hosted by the African Synthesis Centre for Climate Change, Environment and Development (ASCEND) at the University of Cape Town. It aims to provide platforms for learning about what works, for shaping the global climate solutions discourse, and to increase participation of early career researchers, policymakers, and practitioners, with additional capacity building activities in evidence-based methods.

The call for abstracts is now open and invites rigorous, real-world evidence of what works in climate policy and practice — with a preference for empirical evaluations over theoretical frameworks or technological solutions. Prepare your proposal for a 15-minute talk, a 90-minute session, or a poster across seven themes:

· Climate policy and practice interventions

· Climate policy and practice in the Global South

· Evidence into decision-making and action

· Co-effects of climate policies and practice

· Climate and health

· Climate and food systems

· Climate solutions for cities

Early-career researchers and applicants from low and lower-middle income countries are particularly encouraged — and travel support is in development. Please find the call for abstracts here: https://whatworksclimate.solutions/summit-2027/call-for-abstracts/ and submit your abstract before the submission deadline on 20 September 2026 (AoE).