Climate change poses a growing threat to poverty reduction in East and Southern Africa. Yet the level of welfare or wellbeing at which climate shocks can be resisted, or no longer have an impact on wellbeing status, is often underestimated. This article introduces a special issue of the IDS Bulletin, synthesising multi-country qualitative, quantitative, and mixed-methods evidence from these two regions. It shows that climate resilience is closely linked to the same capacities that enable sustained escapes from poverty. While households in and near poverty employ diverse forms of coping, limited assets and weak institutional support limit their ability to maintain wellbeing over time. The article accordingly highlights the need for integrated, multisectoral approaches combining social protection, livelihood support, and skills development to strengthen climate resilience alongside poverty reduction.