The Population Council’s initiative on Population, Environmental Risks, and the Climate Crisis (PERCC) harnesses evidence to build resilient, sustainable, and equitable communities, able to adapt to and mitigate the climate crisis.

For Earth Day, we spotlight PERCC data and research that center the needs of communities most affected by climate change to ensure that climate programs and policies are progressive, inclusive, and rooted in the principles of equity.

To Build a Green Economy, We Must Engage Women and Girls

As the green transition gains momentum, women and girls must be at the heart of the shift, leading and participating as decisionmakers and workers in the green energy sector. This gender-just transition recognizes the perspectives and experiences of women and girls and unleashes their potential to ensure innovation while enhancing gender equality and economic empowerment.

Community Demographic Model: Invest Today for a Resilient Tomorrow

Population Council researchers develop demographic projections based on globally used and agreed-upon scenarios to understand the complex interplay between people and the climate—and forecast future outcomes.

Climate Threats in Odisha State, India

Odisha is a climate hotspot. To better understand the impact of floods and cyclones, droughts, and heatwaves on the Odisha people, Population Council researchers interview community members (farmers, daily wage laborers, tribal community members, women with children, the elderly, and disabled people) to document concerns and coping mechanisms, including migration. The analysis also highlights government strategies as well as what more is needed.

On the Front Line: Community Health and Humanitarian Crises

In Haiti, a country plagued by disruptive shocks over the past two decades, Population Council researchers, as part of the Frontline Health project, conduct a qualitative study to document the lives of community health workers—creating a data-driven approach for evaluating and strengthening the resilience of frontline health workers in complex humanitarian settings globally.

Children in Indian Districts with High Climate Vulnerability More Likely to Suffer from Malnutrition

Population Council researchers link an index on vulnerability of agriculture to climate change with child malnutrition indicators from the National Family Health Survey. A spatial analysis pinpoints geographical hotspots of high vulnerability of agriculture to climate change and child malnutrition.