Gathering more than 20 capacity-building experts from around the world, the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP) Academy successfully organised its Future Leaders Development Workshop from September 12 to 13, 2025, at the University of Cape Town. This activity facilitated a rich exchange of perspectives and experiences, consequently reshaping the WCRP Future Leaders Programme — the Academy’s flagship initiative on leadership and capacity building, which is set to take place in the near future.
Fostering a safe and collaborative atmosphere, the workshop was designed to allow participants to share their unique insights and expertise. A panel discussion on the best practices in capacity development brought together experts from Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Global North to share their experiences in their respective regions. The importance of contextualising training programmes emerged as central, with each speaker sharing how different learning opportunities must be shaped according to the specific context and audience. This discussion was further complemented by another panel that explored the efforts within WCRP to advance capacity development. Here, representatives from Fresh Eyes on CMIP, My Climate Risk, Atmospheric Processes And their Role in Climate (APARC), and the WCRP Secretariat shared their experiences in handling trainings within this global network.
These panel discussions spurred meaningful exchanges among all participants, as the workshop further engaged everyone through interactive activities such as the wheel of privilege exercise and the design your Future Leaders Programme activity. One key insight that emanated from these exchanges is the need for leadership training within the field of climate science. While climate scientists must be competent in their technical skills, they must also be equipped with effective leadership, communication abilities, and essential values to create better working environments. This translated into one of the final activities of the workshop: defining a WCRP leader. For these participants, some of the attributes of this ideal persona are becoming a listening, collaborative, and empowering leader who can promote transparency and inclusivity, while making sure that impact is felt by communities.
The challenge for the Academy is to transform these ideas into tangible activities and initiatives that would shape the field of climate science. The WCRP Future Leaders Programme, being an ambitious initiative that seeks to transform climate leadership, is undoubtedly shaping up to be a worthwhile endeavor.
