28 February, 2025
Climate change
The UK Collaborative on Development Research (UKCDR) has launched a new data tool to visualise research investments in climate change research, with a focus on Low- and Middle-Income Countries (LMICs). The Climate Change and International Development Research Project Tracker aims to support funders and researchers in delivering a more effective and coherent response to the global challenges presented by climate change.
The UK is committed to being a leader in several areas, including tackling climate change, addressing international development challenges, and promoting global science. These commitments are reflected in key policy documents such as the 2021 Integrated Review, the 2022 International Development Strategy, and the 2023 International Development White Paper which outlines several ambitions, including the doubling of the UK’s International Climate Finance (ICF) contribution by 2026. UK funders have a long history of supporting high-impact research on climate change and international development, however, the urgency and complexity of the climate crisis requires the adoption of more coordinated approaches at the research funding level.
For public policies to be based on solid scientific knowledge from multiple disciplines and areas, a better understanding of the current state and priorities of climate research funding is imperative. As such, by building upon UKCDR’s previous work in data mapping, analysis, and foresight, the new tool intends to support coherence within the field by identifying research gaps, areas of duplication, and opportunities for collaboration.
The data initially focuses on the period between 2018/19 and 2022/23, featuring research projects from 19 funders around the world totalling (at least) £2.4 billion. Post-launch, the tracker is scheduled to be updated on a six-monthly basis with additional data, including new projects from funders already included in the database and additional funders whose data have not yet been captured.
The dashboard and full methodology can be viewed on the UKCDR website.
To find out more about this work and UKCDR’s data tools, please contact members of our Data Team at a.bucher@ukcdr.org.uk or l.burman@ukcdr.org.uk.
About UKCDR
The UK Collaborative on Development Research is an organisation working side-by-side with government departments and research funders to amplify and enhance the UK’s research for the international development sector. UKCDR works to advance the impact of UK-funded development research by promoting collaboration, improving the quality of research, and enhancing the integration of research into development policy and practice.