Anticipating tomorrow’s climate challenges
The Climate Foresight program aims to germinate transdisciplinary and cross-sectoral collaborations that explore complex and emergent climate challenges and generate transformative knowledge and solutions.
Climate Foresight supports bold, cross-sectoral initiatives that address complex and poorly understood climate issues. By funding early scoping workshops and ongoing networks, this program fosters innovative collaboration between researchers, Knowledge Holders, and those directly applying climate insights.
PICS believes deep insights begin with in-person connection, generative conversations, and a commitment to shared inquiry.
Research that supports transformative change
Transformative change involves systemic, mutually reinforcing shifts in:
- “views – ways of thinking, knowing and seeing;
- structures – ways of organizing, regulating and governing; and
- practices – ways of doing, behaving and relating.”
(IPBES, 2024)
These shifts result in “a change in the fundamental attributes of human and natural systems.”
(UNFCCC, 2024)
Research for transformative change is action-oriented, aiming to address the root drivers of complex, systemic problems through deep engagement with diverse constituencies and ways of knowing. The Climate Foresight Program supports collaborative exploration and solution development to drive transformative climate action.
Climate Foresight Dialogues
What big challenges are on the horizon, and how can we explore transformative solutions to those problems?
The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions is looking for researchers ready to lead that conversation.
The opportunity: To lead an innovative dialogue with the most insightful researchers and practitioners in B.C. and beyond, that shapes the next generation of transformative climate solutions.
The Climate Foresight Program has a two-phase process of research support:
- Climate Foresight Dialogues will bring together teams of up to 15 scholars and practitioners situated across multiple academic disciplines and sectors in an issue-scoping and partnership development retreat in an inspiring B.C. setting. Topics for Dialogues are solicited through an open call.
- Following the Dialogues, PICS will support interested participants to co-develop collaborative projects to generate transformative knowledge and solutions approaches. Promising initiatives will be considered for funding contributions of up to $300,000, as well as continued support from PICS to mobilize and communicate knowledge and outputs to relevant audiences.
2025/26 Projects
The Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions is funding six projects in the first funding round of the Climate Foresight program.
Two projects will receive full funding and support under the program, which includes $30,000 and PICS staff support to host a Climate Foresight Dialogue. A Dialogue brings together scholars and practitioners for an issue-scoping and partnership development retreat in an inspiring B.C. setting.
These two projects will then be supported to co-develop collaborative projects arising from the Dialogue and will be considered for up to $300,000 to support this ongoing work.
The two projects chosen for this level of support are:
- Planning for Collective Ownership of Climate Mitigation Infrastructure in British Columbia will convene scholars and practitioners to develop a roadmap for community-owned infrastructure for decarbonization and climate transitions across British Columbia.
Project leads: Dr. Holly Caggiano and Dr. Alex Tavasoli (University of British Columbia) and Ana Guerra Marin (Iron and Earth)
- Shared Watershed Pathways: Towards proactive stewardship of watersheds in an era of rapid climate change will integrate knowledge from disciplines such as climate science, salmon ecology, environmental risk management, social science, Indigenous governance systems, policy, and complex systems to envision and empower potential sustainable paths forward for B.C.’s watersheds and their salmon and people.
Project leads: Dr. Jonathan Moore (Simon Fraser University), Dr. Tara Martin (UBC), and Nigel Sainsbury (SFU)
Recognizing the high quality and volume of applications received, PICS is providing seed funding to four additional projects. Each of the following will receive $30,000 to seed its development:
The two projects chosen for this level of support are:
- Using Art and Metrics for Connected Action on Community Health and Climate will empower community groups, local governments, Indigenous Nations, and locals to co-design nature-based neighbourhoods that foster ecological healing and social resilience.
Project leads: Dr. Maleea Acker, Dr. Sarah Marie Wiebe, and Dr. Kristian Dubrawski (University of Victoria)
- The Future of Forests: Persistent wildfires, human health, and new opportunities for livelihoods in northern B.C. communities will work with northern communities to explore adaptation strategies and new forms of forest governance and management that promote co-benefits for the climate, biodiversity, community prosperity, and health and well-being.
Project leads: Dr. Sophie Wilkinson (SFU), Dr. Chris Buse (SFU), and Dr. Sinead Earley (UNBC)
- Git qṃsistá: Learning together to revitalize herring ecosystems in a warming sea will co-develop principles for restoration and stewardship of Pacific herring ecosystems in Kitasu Bay, a key culturally important place for the Kitasoo Xai’xais First Nation.
Project leads: Dr. Kyle Wilson (SFU), Dr. Natalie Ban (UVIC), and Christina Service (Kitasoo Xai’xais Stewardship Authority)
- The climate-space connection: preventing the next environmental crisis will examine how the proliferation of satellites is altering the upper atmosphere through rocket exhaust and satellite re-entries, with potential implications for the climate system, and pursue innovations to prevent increased space activities from exacerbating the climate crisis.
Project leads: Dr. Aaron Boley (UBC) and Dr. Michael Byers (UBC)
Retreats for the two fully supported projects will be held this fall. The four projects receiving seed funding will also begin in late 2025 and into the new year.
Climate Foresight Application Form
Applications are now closed. The call will reopen in Spring 2026.