From floods in New Zealand and wildfires in Canada to drought in the Middle East and extreme heat in the Northern Hemisphere, last year provided a powerful demonstration of the impacts of climate change.

With global temperatures over the past decade approximately 1.2°C higher than pre-industrial levels , the impacts now urgently require investment in adaptation to avoid mounting losses.

However, research suggests that overcoming existing limits and barriers to adaptation may take decades, especially in vulnerable countries. And although adaptation measures are gradually being implemented, how can they be further affected by continued warming?

In our new study published in One Earth, we examine how the effectiveness of well-established water adaptation options changes as the world warms. (More carbonbrief.org)