Sean O’Donoghue has a doctorate in marine pelagic ecology from the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN). He joined eThekwini Municipality, or Durban, in 2011, where he manages the Climate Change Adaptation Branch. A key focus of the Branch is community ecosystem-based adaptation, providing work opportunities for Durban’s indigent populations. O’Donoghue manages a number of research, inter-city and community partnership projects, and is working closely with C40, particularly the Cities Finance Facility, which is helping to develop a business case for the city to self-fund its community stream management programme Sihlanzimvelo. He is an IPCC lead author for the Special Report on Oceans and the Cryosphere in a Changing Climate.