In mid-June, over 400 academics, policymakers and practitioners attended MR2025: Mobility, Adaptation, and Wellbeing in a Changing Climate, hosted by the Columbia Climate School in partnership with the Global Centre for Climate Mobility and the Tamer Institute for Social Enterprise and Climate Change. Since its inception in 2019, the conference has convened every two years to foster conversation on emerging topics in climate change—ranging from local adaptation, managed retreat, green infrastructure and community resilience to climate law and policy. Over the course of three days, MR2025 highlighted these key topics through panel sessions, hands-on workshops and research presentations from around the world.

Local and International Frameworks

The conference opened on Monday with a keynote address from Carlos Alvarado Quesada, the 48th President of Costa Rica, who discussed the country’s pivotal decarbonization strategies and lessons drawn from the resilience of Pacific island states. The keynote was followed by an expert panel discussion on managed retreat and mobility trends, led by Alex de Sherbinin, conference chair and director of the Center for Integrated Earth System Information within the Columbia Climate School. Reflecting on the expanding themes of this year’s conference, de Sherbinin noted how managed retreat alone may not encompass all aspects of climate mobility challenges, particularly in the Global South.

Several sessions presented locally led climate action, focusing on emerging global research and policy frameworks addressing climate-induced displacement in urban regions. A roundtable chaired by Loretta Lees, director of the Initiative on Cities at Boston University, explored findings from the Global Research Network on Climate-Induced Displacement, Resettlement, Adaptation, and Resilience for Cities. These discussions explored how receiving cities are developing innovative responses to climate-induced displacement, and how principles of justice and equity can guide more inclusive urban adaptation—issues that are becoming increasingly urgent as climate impacts intensify.

A Global Community

One of the standout moments of MR2025 was Tuesday’s poster session and evening reception, which showcased emerging research and innovative solutions at the intersection of climate science and policy. The event offered a glimpse into critical themes such as ecosystem-based adaptation, localized governance, land use transformation and facilitated migration across diverse global contexts.

Beyond the research itself, many presenters and attendees reflected on the growing challenge of federal funding cuts that have disrupted long-term projects and forced researchers to adapt, pivot or scale back their work.

“We’re seeing funding cuts and travel restrictions affecting both researchers and government employees across the country,” said Sheehan Moore, conference organizer and postdoctoral fellow at Columbia Climate School. “While we’re grateful for the flexibility that a hybrid conference gave attendees who weren’t able to join us in person, the extent of the impacts is very apparent and should alarm us all.”

Still, there was a sense of solidarity within the community; the culmination of diverse, place-based research projects reflected a collective commitment to advancing critical work in confronting the climate crisis. Researchers presented case studies spanning disaster management for hurricanes in Florida, managed retreat solutions in Puerto Rico, flooding risks in South Asia, mangrove protections in Sierra Leone and beyond. This exchange of ideas not only illustrated the urgency and scale of climate mobility challenges, but also reaffirmed the importance of collaboration, creativity and sustained support in driving this work forward.

The Future of Climate Mobility

The conference concluded with a keynote address by Jesse M. Keenan, associate professor and director of the Center on Climate Change and Urbanism at Tulane University. Drawing from the premise of his forthcoming book “North: The Future of Post-Climate America,” Keenan reflected on the perils of a “climate haven,” displacement patterns across communities and other obstacles that will only grow as impacts of climate change continue to emerge in the United States. Following the keynote was a panel discussion on housing challenges in the face of climate change.

After several days of conversations, presentations and community-building, conference-goers expressed their excitement for the expanding climate mobility space. Jola Ajibade, a professor at Emory University’s Environmental Sciences Department who participated in a session, noted “a sense of purpose, care and deep reflection about how different researchers, practitioners, government and communities are engaging in this space, and what we must do moving forward, despite the complexity of the ongoing climate and social crises.” Charles Huyck, executive vice president of ImageCat, an international risk management innovation company, commented that the work in this space will continue because it is necessary. “There is too much money at stake,” he said. “The battle will be how we collectively act on our insights.”

Despite ongoing challenges and uncertainties in the climate space, a sense of hope persisted. “The kinds of research-sharing and discussions that happen in spaces like MR2025 are more urgent than ever, and we’re hoping that in 2027 we can welcome back everyone we missed this year,” Moore said.