Climate Adaptation Is Having a Moment—But Are We Ready?

In episode 251 of America Adapts, host Doug Parsons speaks with Jamil Wyne, founder of Hazelwood Network, to explore whether climate adaptation is finally moving into the mainstream—or if we're seeing familiar signals that never quite add up. From growing attention in finance, consulting, and platforms like LinkedIn to real-world action in places like Singapore and across emerging markets, adaptation is gaining traction. But that momentum remains fragmented—spread across investors, governments, and innovators without clear coordination. At the same time, a major bottleneck persists: we still don't know how to clearly communicate adaptation, often relying on abstract climate metrics that fail to resonate. Drawing on his work across Latin America, Sub-Saharan Africa, and the Middle East, Wyne highlights how adaptation is already happening on the ground—often ahead of the U.S.—while the private sector cautiously begins to engage. The conversation also touches on the role of AI as both a tool and a source of new complexity. Ultimately, this episode asks a central question: if adaptation is having a moment, are we actually ready to capitalize on it?

Transcript of episode here.

Links in this episode:

Founder: Hazelwood Network

Lead author: The Climate Tech Opportunity (Oxford Saïd School of Business)

LinkedIn Learning Instructor:  Climate Technology for Business Resilience and Adaptation

Articles: Forbes, SSIR, TechCrunch, WEF, World Bank, CSIS

Key Themes Covered in This Episode:

• Is adaptation really having a moment—or just more noise?