The coming decade is critical in our attempts to achieve the progress necessary to address the climate challenge. The planet and its people are at a crossroads, in which the necessity for transformative change to achieve a more equitable and climate-resilient form of development is stark.
Adverse impacts of climate change are now widespread in all world regions and have led to loss and damage of both nature and people. Rapid, deep and fair cuts in emissions are needed across all countries and sectors of the economy.
If we are to meet the temperature and equity commitments enshrined in the landmark United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Paris Agreement, we must face up to the challenge of addressing mitigation and adaptation challenges in unison.
Building on 25 years of climate research
This year, the Tyndall Centre celebrates 25 years since its inception as the UK’s first interdisciplinary and policy-relevant Climate Change Research Centre.
Our Critical Decade for Climate Action conference in September built on the legacy of the Tyndall Centre to bring together cutting-edge interdisciplinary science, which spanned physical, social, and natural sciences, and the arts and humanities, to generate new knowledge and strengthen the foundations for a healthy planet and fair society.
Four research themes
This briefing note gives further context on why this decade is so critical, the situation we face, and the four research themes that we addressed in our conference:
- What are the emergent and urgent transitions in this ‘critical’ decade?
- What are the different constellations of options that could align our emissions with the Paris temperature and equity commitments?
- What are the barriers and enablers to delivering climate action at scale?
- How to build and sustain coalitions for action in an increasingly fragmented and climate-changed world?
Part 1: Conference concept and objectives
Download the Briefing Note (PDF) or read below:
Critical Decade for Climate Action Conference Briefing Note
Part 2: Session briefing notes
Rapporteurs and speakers have put together briefing notes from sessions held at the Critical Decade for Climate Action Conference in 2025.
See the full set of briefing notes from sessions at the conference
This page was updated on 17 October 2025
