Adaptation

The world’s climate has already changed due to emissions of greenhouse gases, and will continue to do so. Handling those changes, for example by building walls against flooding, is called adaptation. Adaptation is also one of the main areas in the international climate negotiations, along with mitigation. The difference between adaptation and mitigation is shown in the picture below:

The difference between mitigation and adaptation (in the climate change context). Source: Locatelli & Pramova, Forests and synergies between adaptation and mitigation, weADAPT.
The difference between mitigation and adaptation (in the climate change context). Source: Locatelli & Pramova, Forests and synergies between adaptation and mitigation, weADAPT.

When the impacts of climate change are so grave that people can’t adapt, the people risk loss and damage.