Worldwide, cities are faced with the challenge of designing and implementing plans for transition. States must drastically reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and ensure they are well-prepared to adapt to the impacts of climate change. Dawson will describe the development and application of an Urban Integrated Assessment Framework-aimed at understanding whether London is climate-constrained or climate-ready.

Dawson is the co-leader of the Tyndall Centre's "Cities and Coasts" theme. In 2010, he was awarded a five-year research fellowship by the UK's Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council.