What Works Climate Solutions: Building an open, equitable, inclusive, and sustainable initiative to support evidence-based climate policy

The What Works Climate Solutions (WWCS) initiative aims to transform climate policy-making by identifying and advancing evidence-based climate solutions. By applying proven evidence synthesis methods from fields like medicine and education, WWCS builds a rigorous, inclusive evidence culture across researchers, policymakers, funders, and civil society. Its vision is to accelerate climate action by identifying what works, for whom, and under what conditions. WWCS focuses on three main aims: (1) professionalize and sustain an inclusive, equitable, and diverse initiative; (2) generate rigorous, policy-relevant evidence on climate solutions; and (3) enhance capacity and engagement across global stakeholders. Key activities include organizing the 2026 WWCS Summit, seeding a Living Evidence Bank, developing a citizen-science crowd platform, conducting blueprint living systematic reviews on climate and health, and expanding the WWCS Network. The initiative will also scale its Evidence Accelerator training program, professionalize coordination through a Secretariat, and grow a diverse funding base to ensure long-term sustainability. WWCS is committed to equity, diversity, and global inclusion, ensuring broad participation, and democratizing access to evidence that drives action across sectors and regions. Through collaboration, transparency, and shared learning, WWCS seeks to democratize access to evidence and build a global community driving effective and context-specific climate solutions.