Attributing human causes for climate disasters to predict and prepare for the next big hit 

Dr. Christopher Trisos directs the Climate Risk Lab in the African Climate and Development Initiative at the University of Cape Town. His research integrates environmental and social sciences to improve understanding of climate change risks to people and ecosystems. Dr. Trisos and his team explore intersections of climate change, biodiversity, and human health. They build tools to predict where and when climate change risks will appear, and to provide actionable knowledge for more rapid and equitable responses to reduce risk. 

Dr. Trisos was a Coordinating Lead Author of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 6th Assessment Report on climate change impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability—for which he co-led the chapter on Africa—and was an author of the IPCC’s Synthesis Report that integrated IPCC assessments of climate change hazards, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and adapting to climate change risks. He has also advised on climate change for the World Bank, U.N. Environment Programme, and other organizations. He is an author of the cli-fi choose-your-own adventure game/book “Survive the Century“. Visit the Climate Risk Lab website to learn about their work. 

Planned Polymaths Work: Dr. Trisos is interested in building systems for the rapid attribution of climate impacts to human-caused climate change, and in developing forecasts of climate change impacts and adaptation options for important sectors that have received less climate research attention, such as education and sport.