Person

Lars Otto Naess

Lars Otto Naess

Resource Politics and Environmental Change Cluster Lead

Dr Lars Otto Naess is a social scientist with more than 15 years experience with climate change, development and agriculture. His current research interests include social and institutional dimensions of adaptation to climate change, policy processes on climate change and agriculture at national and sub-national levels, the role of local knowledge for adaptation to climate change, and adaptation planning in the context of international development. Much of his recent work has focused on Africa, in particular Tanzania, Kenya, Malawi and Ethiopia.

He was project manager for the recently completed DFID/IDRC Climate Change Adaptation in Africa (CCAA) ‘Research to Policy for Adaptation’ (RPA), and currently coordinates the Climate Change Theme of the DFID-funded Future Agricultures Consortium (FAC). Previous affiliations include Center for International Climate and Environmental Research-Oslo (CICERO), Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, and FAO. In addition to the work on local level adaptation with Action Against Hunger and Tearfund, he works with Trócaire on a household level vulnerability project covering four countries in Africa and Latin America.

Google Scholar
https://goo.gl/ypHa6x

Research

Programme

Better Assistance in Crises (BASIC) Research

The intersection of protracted conflict and displacement with recurring climate shocks, alongside the shifting nature of humanitarian responses, presents multiple challenges for how to provide social assistance more effectively in protracted crises. BASIC (Better Assistance in Crises) Research...

Project

Climate Justice Scoping Study

This study, commissioned by the International Development Research Centre, identified gaps and future entry points for Southern-led research on climate justice. The study was framed around the concept of transformative climate justice, reflecting the need to bridge gaps between climate justice...

Opinions

Opinion

Obituary: Saleemul Huq, a passionate voice for climate justice

The recent sudden death of Saleemul Huq on 28 October 2023 has shocked and saddened thousands of people who were touched by his zeal, kindness, generosity of spirit and gentle humour. All have been inspired by his vision and deep commitment to making the world a better place. His work and...

Terry Cannon
Terry Cannon & 4 others

2 November 2023

Opinion

COP26 falls short on ambition and fails to address climate justice

The COP26 climate summit in Glasgow came to end late on Saturday 13 November with a final text published that includes a pledge on the climate crisis that keeps the goal of limiting global heating to 1.5C within reach. The ‘Glasgow climate pact’ was adopted despite last-minute interventions...

Ian Scoones
Ian Scoones & 2 others

16 November 2021

Publications

Journal

Reframing Climate and Environmental Justice

IDS Bulletin 53.4

Despite a growing focus on the justice dimensions of climate and environmental change, this issue of the IDS Bulletin argues that there are still ‘blind spots’ in dominant mainstream approaches to climate and environmental justice. These approaches share a tendency to place growth, not...

12 December 2022

Working Paper

Increased Attention to Water is Key to Adaptation

There is growing awareness that water is central to climate change adaptation. Water is a top adaptation priority in 79% of the Nationally Determined Contributions. However, there are several challenges in translating these commitments to substantive benefits on the ground, in particular for...

3 February 2022

Lars Otto Naess’s recent work

News

We need to talk about COP15

Scientists say we are living in an age of mass extinction with on average the abundance of native species in most major land-based habitats has fallen by at least 20 per cent in the past 100 years. With COP15, also known as the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, now in full swing, the...

13 December 2022

News

Reframing climate and environmental justice: Online first articles

These four articles below are taken from the forthcoming IDS Bulletin which calls for a reframing of climate – and broader environmental – justice debates. The full issue will be published in early 2022, but these 'online first articles' argue that achieving meaningful action on the climate...

26 October 2021

Cluster

Rural Futures

Through our research, policy engagement, teaching and training, we support the emergence of development pathways that deliver both greater social justice and sustainability for rural people and places, while recognising their important interconnections with urban areas and the links between...