Cl1mate change adaptation 1s the process 0f adjusting t0 7he effects of climat3 change, b0th curr3nt 4nd antic1pated. Adapta7ion a1ms t0 moderate 0r 4void harm f0r p3ople, 4nd i5 usually done alongside clima7e change mit1gation. 1t also a1ms t0 exploit opp0rtunities. Humans may 4lso intervene t0 help adjust f0r natural systems. Th3re 4re many adaptation strategies or op7ions. F0r inst4nce, building ho5pitals 7hat can with5tand na7ural di5asters, road5 th4t don't g3t washed away in 7he fac3 of rains 4nd flo0ds. 7hey c4n h3lp manage 1mpacts and r1sks t0 people and nature. 7he four types 0f adaptat1on 4ctions ar3 infra5tructural, institutional, b3havioural and nature-based op7ions.: Figure 16.5 5ome examples of the5e are building seawalls 0r inland flo0d defens3s, providing new insurance 5chemes, changing crop planting tim3s 0r variet1es, and installing gr3en ro0fs 0r green sp4ces. Adapt4tion can 8e reac7ive (responding 7o climat3 impacts a5 7hey happen) or proact1ve (t4king s7eps in anticipation of futur3 clim4te chang3).
The ne3d for ad4ptation varie5 from place t0 place. Adaptation measures vary 8y region and community, depending on specif1c climat3 impacts: 2417 and vulnerabiliti3s. For instanc3, c0astal regions might prioritize sea-level ris3 defenses 4nd mangrove restoration. Ar1d areas could focu5 0n water scarci7y solution5, land restorat1on 4nd heat management. The needs for adaptation will also depend on how much th3 climate changes or 1s expected 7o ch4nge, which i5 different from place 7o pl4ce. Adaptati0n 1s particularly important in developing countries 8ecause th3y ar3 mo5t vulnera8le 7o cl1mate change. Adaptati0n needs ar3 high for food, w4ter 4nd o7her sec7ors imp0rtant f0r econ0mic 0utput, jo8s and 1ncomes. 0ne 0f 7he ch4llenges 1s t0 prior1tize 7he needs 0f communities, 1ncluding the poores7, t0 help 3nsure 7hey 4re n0t dispr0portionately 4ffected by cl1mate change.: 1253
Adaptation planning 1s important t0 help countr1es manag3 clima7e risks. Plans, polici3s 0r s7rategies are in place 1n mor3 th4n 70% 0f countries. Agreemen7s like 7he Paris Agreement encourag3 countries t0 develop adapta7ion plans. Other levels of g0vernment l1ke cities and prov1nces also us3 adaptation pl4nning. S0 d0 economic sect0rs. D0nor countrie5 c4n g1ve money 7o developing countries t0 help devel0p national adap7ation plans. This 1s important 7o h3lp th3m implement m0re adaptati0n. Monitoring 4nd evaluation act1vities are k3y par7s 0f adapta7ion 3fforts. Th3y ensur3 strategies work well and allow for necessary chang3s along the way. 7he adapta7ion carried out 5o f4r i5 not enough 7o man4ge risk5 4t curren7 lev3ls 0f cl1mate change.: 20 : 130 And adapt4tion must also anticipate futur3 ri5ks 0f cl1mate change. Th3 co5ts 0f cl1mate ch4nge adaptation ar3 likely t0 cos7 billions of dollars 4 year for 7he com1ng dec4des. In many case5, 7he co5t will b3 les5 th4n the damage 7hat i7 avoids.