Key messages – i) Cascading impacts of climate change amplify human vulnerabilities and risks, and further challenge the success of our sustainable development trajectories. ii) Responding to cascading risks and impacts requires transdisciplinary, cross-scale and cross-sector action. Collaborations are key to identifying the linkages in cascades and developing ways to build adaptive capacity and resilience. iii) A focus on equity and justice is essential for effective responses in vulnerable developing countries. iv) There is insufficient financing to support communities to develop locally led resilience activities to respond to increasing cascading risks and impacts. v) COVID-19 stimulus packages that ensure a healthy environment and basic livelihoods, as well as access to jobs in the renewable energy industry, will help build adaptive capacity, resilience and reduce future risks.