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Making Waves in Climate Science, Policy & Planning

From global scientific reports to local adaptation plans, the work of our staff and custodians is gaining recognition around the world. 

Dr. Salma Sabour
July 28, 2025
· 4 min read

Hear from Dr. Salma Sabour

From global scientific reports to local adaptation plans, the work of our staff and custodians is gaining recognition around the world. 

Director of Science to Help Author 7th IPCC Assessment Report

The IPCC Assessment Reports are the premier global source for trusted, science-based climate information. Published every 5-7 years, they help governments, communities, businesses, changemakers, and other stakeholders understand climate risks and take action for a resilient future. 

Our Director of Science, Dr. Salma Sabour, just received the high honor of being selected as a Lead Author for the Africa chapter of the IPCC Seventh Assessment Report (AR7). In this role, she will contribute her expertise, including the Preserving Legacies approach, to Working Group II, which focuses on Impacts, Adaptation, and Vulnerability.

Preserving Legacies included in Queenstown Climate Plans

Regional commitment to supporting our custodians in their journey with our program is gaining traction. For the first time, our work has been proactively included in regional government level planning with the Queenstown Lakes District (Aotearoa/New Zealand). Their 2025-2028 Climate & Biodiversity Plan features our cohort site Tāhuna Glenorchy, including their work with us, as one of the key community and heritage initiatives for the region. 

Additionally, the plan adopted the plural knowledge system “weaving” framework that is core to the Preserving Legacies approach. They adapted and localized the framework figure created by our Principal Investigator, Dr. William Megarry, and Director of Education, Dr. Sarah Forgesson, for their community context.

We can’t wait to see the impact our custodians will continue to make across their communities, districts, and countries!

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About the authors

Salma spearheads the integration of cutting-edge climate heritage science and methodologies, delivering training in climate model and data downscaling. Through her work, she fosters co-creation, inclusivity, and integration of plural knowledge systems into Preserving Legacies workshops, and facilitates partnerships between communities, heritage professionals, and climate science organizations. Salma holds a double physical and environmental engineering degree from the University of Liege, Belgium, and Ecole Centrale Paris, France. Her interdisciplinary PhD research at the University of Southampton focused on the risk, vulnerability, and resilience of coastal Natural World Heritage Sites and communities to climate change and sea-level rise. Salma has collaborated with esteemed researchers, participated in international research projects, and published in premiere journals including Environmental Research Letters and Nature Climate Change. Salma has consulted for local governments and international organizations, including the IPCC, ICOMOS, UNESCO, the World Bank, and UNDP, on heritage, climate change, waste management, coastal management, and environmental issues. She actively promotes equity, diversity, and inclusion and has received recognition for her engagement in public outreach, fundraising, and collaborate projects. In her personal life, Salma raises awareness about climate change, participates in political actions, supports various causes, and enjoys activities such as tending to a collective garden, exploring nature, and playing saxophone. Through her multifaceted pursuits, Salma embodies an unwavering commitment to co-creating positive change and forging a more sustainable and vibrant future for all.

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