In the face of climate change, the world must shift its mindset from seeing resilience as merely a defensive strategy to embracing it as a proactive approach to designing a sustainable future, argued Dr. Youssef Nassef, Director of the Adaptation Division at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC).
Speaking on “Shaping the Future of Resilience” at the Sustainable Expo 2025, Dr. Nassef explained that the terms resilience and adaptation are often be used interchangeably. He noted that the global response to climate change has two primary components: reducing the root causes of the problem and adapting to its impacts.
However, he pointed out that some have historically viewed adaptation with skepticism, fearing it might distract from mitigation efforts. Another challenge lies in measuring adaptation—while emission reductions are quantifiable, resilience is far more complex and difficult to assess numerically.
“We have to move away from a problem-solution mentality to a mentality of creating a design for the future-one that takes into account economic realities and technological change, rather than trying to solve tomorrow’s problems with today’s outdated mindset,” he said.
The concept of adaptation is now seen as a more integrated, forward-looking approach, aiming to build systems that are flexible and future-oriented. This shift is embodied in the “global goal on adaptation,” which applies across all sectors and redefines how the international community approaches resilience.
Designing for the future means responding not just to immediate problems, but also anticipating future needs by leveraging emerging technologies and long-term thinking. While tools like technology and finance are critical to building resilience, Nassef emphasized the importance of combining them with indigenous wisdom to enable large-scale adaptation and sustainable development.
When it comes to building sustainable cities, Nassef highlighted the importance of neighborhood design and integrating sustainability into buildings. Citing 75% of health issues linked to environmental factors, incorporating nature into the built environment—through approaches like biophilic design—can create healthier and more resilient communities.
“This is the mega driving force for everyone to see a transition or transformation in mindset, because it starts from that built environment,” said Nassef.
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