Resilient global societies that can withstand increasingly frequent and large-scale environmental shocks

The Challenge

Resilience and adaptation is under-studied. There is a case for improving global resilience to environmental change, that is not yet made strongly enough, nor are the solutions yet all clear.  

Mission Development

We are analysing the 'drivers' of disruptive environmental change, and climate change. We are exploring the integration of these challenges with other risks, and identifying, testing and implementing solutions in a broad range of resource settings.

During co-creation workshops we will continue developing this mission, with a clear vision to:

  • Analyse the driving force of disruptive environmental and climate change.
  • Explore the integration of these challenges with other risks (like energy and food security)
  • Identify, test and implement solutions in a broad range of resource settings.

We foresee there to be many projects emerging out of each mission. One area of focus in the Thriving Mission is Resillient Water Systems & Infrastructure.

 

Resilience in Water Systems & Infrastructure

Water Adaption is Urgent: The UK faces escalating climate‑driven water challenges: flooding, drought, water scarcity, and consequent water‑quality deterioration.

Shortage of freshwater is a serious problem in many regions worldwide, and is expected to become even more urgent over the next decades as a result of increased demand for food production and adverse effects of climate change.  There is an urgent need for integration of public perception, behavioural change, governance structures, and community engagement into water resilience strategies.

Past and Future Activities

We hosted a round-table discussion in January 2026 for researchers from across 51³Ô¹ÏÍø's faculties. They identified the core challenges that the UK are facing in water adaptation and resilience, potential opportunities for research initiatives, and innovations that can unlock pathways to impact. The meeting highlighted that water resilience requires deep systems change, uniting science, technology, economics, governance, and public behaviour.

We have a planned workshop in May 2026 to expand on the topic's key challenges and potential pathways to realisable impact.

Going Forward

  • We will be hosting on-going workshops to co-create projects and focus areas in this mission. 
  • Develop a 'theory of change' for the mission, that will plan out a route to maximum impact.
  • We are looking for people who's expertise fall within, or can be adapted to resilience thinking - to join our growing community of experts, collaborate on our future activities and build projects that will have large scale impact.

Get Involved

If you are interested to get involved or want to discuss this mission with us, please get in touch;

You can email us at: sustainable-convergence@imperial.ac.uk

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