Adaptation to climate change represents an urgent global imperative aimed at adapting to the existing and expected consequences of climate change. Adaptation means adapting to the consequences in order to mitigate negative impacts or, where possible, seize new opportunities.

While mitigation focuses on addressing the causes – i.e. reducing greenhouse gas emissions – adaptation addresses consequences of climate change at the local level. An often cited illustrative example is a sinking ship: mitigation is „sewing the hole“ in the ship’s hull (removing the cause), while adaptation is constantly taking water out of the ship to keep the vessel afloat.

Adaptation is a key part of the global response, as many of the impacts of climate change are already underway. It helps protect people, their livelihoods, infrastructure and ecosystems from extremes such as prolonged droughts, floods or storms. The 2015 Paris Agreement explicitly sets a global adaptation goal: strengthen adaptive capacity, increase resilience and reduce vulnerability against climate change. Therefore, each party to the Paris Agreement should engage in the planning and implementation of adaptation measures, for example by developing national adaptation plans.

Comprehensive approaches and solutions

Successful adaptation requires cooperation at all levels: not only central governments but also regions, municipalities, professional institutions, the private sector and local communities have responsibilities. The active participation of local residents is also important.

The main approaches to adaptation include technical, natural and institutional measures, and there is no universal recipe - solutions always depend on the specific environment.

1. Construction and engineering measures: This includes, for example, construction flood control dams and canals, or modifying existing infrastructure (roads, bridges, buildings) to withstand extreme weather events. An example is a massive Thames Barrier in the United Kingdom, which protects London from tidal water during storms and provides protection for around 1.3 million people.
2. Nature-inspired solutions (Ecosystem adaptation): These approaches use the protection and restoration of natural ecosystems, such as wetlands, forests, or mangroves, which naturally they retain water and dampen floods. For example, restoring mangroves on the coast can serve as a living barrier while also providing a haven for biodiversity.
3. Agricultural and water adaptations: They are misled resistant crop varieties, which are tolerant of prolonged drought, heat or soil salinity. In Ethiopia, an extremely heat-tolerant wheat has been introduced to help maintain yields despite rising temperatures. Local farmers are also building systems to rainwater harvesting and irrigating fields during drought.
4. Institutional measures: These include systems early warning against extreme events (storms, droughts), public education and creation of comprehensive adaptation strategies.

In practice, this combination is manifested, for example, in the Netherlands, where the project „"Room for the River"“ (Room for the River) has widened the Rhine riverbed and created new floodplains, allowing the river to hold around 1,000 m³/s more water. In Bangladesh, plagued by floods and rising sea levels, farmers are using an ancient technique floating flower beds from water hyacinth (dhap) and develop salinity-tolerant rice varieties.

The question of financing and climate justice

Although adaptation combines modern technology with traditional knowledge, many communities face obstacles, particularly lack of funding and unclear legislative frameworks.

There is a fundamental difference in capacity between rich and developing countries. African countries argue that adaptation is also a human right, and rich countries, which have historically contributed the most to emissions, have the legal obligation to support the most vulnerable regions.

Developed countries committed in Paris to mobilise $50 billion per year to finance adaptation in developing countries. However, the data shows that reality is lagging behind: an in-depth analysis found that of the $16.8 billion pledged, only about $9.8 billion was effectively delivered in 2018.

Critics point out that developed countries provided long-term loans instead of grants. loans with market interest rates, which undermines the principle of climate solidarity. There are therefore growing demands for fairer adaptation financing, which should focus on grants and local community-led projects, ensuring transparency. Adaptation justice It also includes equitable distribution of resources and the involvement of marginalized groups in decision-making, as only adaptation based on local knowledge can be effective. JRi

Adaptation works like a constantly built dam: it does not stop the coming flood (climate change), but it provides a protective barrier and a space to survive while the flow of water (emissions) is reduced.