TUD strengthens global dialogue on climate adaptation: “Resilient by Design” policy brief highlights higher education’s role in climate-water resilience

The United Nations University Hub on Climate Resilience and Sustainable Technologies (UNU Hub CREST) at TUD Dresden University of Technology and the Global Water and Climate Adaptation Centre (ABCD Centre) released a policy brief titled “Resilient by Design – Integrating Water and Climate in Higher Education for a Sustainable Future.” The publication underscores the critical role of higher education institutions in bridging the gap between climate science and water policy.Its release comes at a pivotal moment, as world leaders convene for the 30th UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) in Belém, Brazil (Nov 10–21, 2025), emphasizing the urgency of climate adaptation efforts.

Intertwined challenges of water management and climate change

The “Resilient by Design” brief explores the intertwined challenges of water management and climate change. It outlines a multi-layered adaptation strategy – from immediate coping measures to long-term transformative shifts – and recommends embedding climate-responsive water policies into national and international frameworks. The brief presents a vision for cross-sector cooperation and highlights how higher education institutions can serve as hubs of innovation, research, and capacity building to drive sustainable water governance and climate resilience. In essence, universities are positioned as “knowledge infrastructures” that help translate scientific insights into practical solutions and public action.

Engaging in transfer activities

A core theme of “Resilient by Design” is strengthening the science-policy interface in climate action. The authors emphasize that research findings and technological innovation must effectively reach policymakers and communities. Higher education institutions can facilitate this through policy dialogues, training, and outreach, ensuring that decisions on water and climate are informed by the best available knowledge. By engaging in such transfer activities, universities help turn evidence into action – for example, advising governments on adaptive water infrastructure or educating the public on conservation. This knowledge exchange is crucial for implementing the brief’s recommendations and achieving real-world impact.As COP30 in Belém shines a spotlight on adaptation and resilience, “Resilient by Design” provides timely insight into how academia can support these efforts. The policy brief’s release is intended to inform international discussions, offering a blueprint for collaborative action that links universities, governments, and communities. With COP30 negotiators seeking ways to measure adaptation progress and finance the policy brief contributes practical ideas on integrating water security and education into the climate agenda. Its key message is optimistic: by leveraging higher education as an agent of change, we can foster climate-resilient water systems that form the foundation of a thriving, sustainable future.

The policy brief was developed under the auspices of the ABCD-Centre and the UNU Hub CREST. The ABCD-Centre – a collaboration spanning TUD, RWTH Aachen, IIT Madras (India), AIT (Thailand) and UNU-FLORES – focuses on water security and climate adaptation in the Global South. Meanwhile, the UNU Hub CREST, established in Dresden in 2025, combines TUD and UNU-FLORES expertise to bridge engineering and policy for climate solutions. Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Stamm, Director of UNU Hub CREST, and Dr. André Lindner, Deputy Director, are among the brief’s co-authors – underlining TUD’s leading role in driving the science-policy interface on climate resilience. The hub’s mission of leveraging education, research, and knowledge transfer to connect science, policy, and practice is reflected throughout the brief.

Further information:
Policy Brief: Resilient by Design - Integrating Water and Climate in Higher Education for a Sustainable Future 
UNU Hub on Climate Resilience and Sustainable Technologies - CREST 
ABCD-Centre

Contacts:
Prof. Dr.-Ing. Jürgen Stamm
Phone: +49 351 463-34397
Email: Juergen.Stamm@​tu-dresden.de

Dr. André Lindner
Phone: +49 351 463-34899
Email: andre.lindner@tu-dresden.de