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Adaptation
Types of adaptation
Barriers to adaptation
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The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) defines adaptation as "adjustments in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities".
Adaptation, along with mitigation, is an essential part of addressing the challenges and opportunities associated with climate change. Mitigation refers to our efforts to limit the man-made causes of climate change. Adaptation addresses the impacts and opportunities resulting from a changing climate.
Irrespective of the success of mitigation efforts, there will still be some degree of unavoidable climate change. This stems from our historic greenhouse gas emissions and the persistence of these gases in the atmosphere, as well as the slow but building warming of the oceans. This delayed response of the oceans will result in temperatures and sea-level continuing to increase for several decades (and in the case of sea level rise, perhaps several centuries) regardless of any present-day emissions reductions.
Effective measures directed at enhancing our capacity to adapt (building adaptive capacity) and at minimising, adjusting to and taking advantage of the consequences of climatic change (delivering adaptation actions) are required.
The Adaptation Sub-Committee (ASC) was established under the UK's Climate Change Act 2008 to provide independent advice to the UK Government on preparing for the impacts of climate change. The Act requires the ASC to provide advice, analysis, information and other assistance, through the Committee on Climate Change on:
- the preparation of the UK Climate Change Risk Assessment;
- the implementation of Her Majesty's Government's Adaptation Programme (for England and
- requests from the national authorities (of England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland) for advice on adaptation.
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IPCC Fourth Assessment Report
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