Climate Adaptation
Adjusting infrastructure, agriculture, and communities to cope with the effects of climate change that are already occurring or are locked in.
Definition
Climate adaptation refers to actions taken to prepare for and manage the impacts of climate change that are already happening or are considered unavoidable, as opposed to mitigation, which focuses on reducing the emissions that cause climate change in the first place.
Adaptation measures include building sea walls and flood defenses, updating building codes for extreme heat, developing drought-resistant crops, and redesigning stormwater systems to handle heavier rainfall.
In Practice
A coastal city raising its sea walls and redesigning drainage systems to handle more frequent flooding is practicing climate adaptation -- it doesn't reduce emissions, but it reduces harm from the climate change that's already occurring.