CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION ACTIVITIES MODULE
Adaptation
There are many different types or categories of adaptation. The most common distinctions
concern:
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Timing: proactive adaptation if it is done in anticipation of an impact, reactive if it is
done in response;
Temporal and spatial scope: short term as opposed to long term, localised as opposed to
widespread;
Purposefulness: autonomous if it is done unconsciously, planned if it is the result of a
policy decision;
Agent: public or private; government, industry, business or individual.
These different characteristics demonstrate the range of actions that are classified as adaptations.
Adaptation will be undertaken by a variety of actors, including individuals, communities,
businesses, private actors, civil society and governments, and will consist of a wide range of
behavioural, institutional, structural and technological adjustments.
Examples of adaptation measures include:
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construction of sea walls
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building of new water reservoirs
CLIMATE CHANGE SIMPLIFIED - Adaptation
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establishment of early warning systems
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revision and/or modification of building codes
CLIMATE CHANGE SIMPLIFIED - Adaptation
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alteration of farming practices and crop use
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improvement of risk management
CLIMATE CHANGE SIMPLIFIED - Adaptation
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enhancement of water use efficiency
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improve water resources management
CLIMATE CHANGE SIMPLIFIED - Adaptation
Adapting to Climate Change Impacts
Water Adaptation
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Improve water resource management including flood risk and drought control.
Integrate climate change considerations into spatial and water resources planning
Improve understanding on impacts and raise awareness, including by engaging with
water utilities and water users
Integrate water resources management with other national policies and sectors, especially
land-use, urban planning
Inventory of resources
Water monitoring programs
Saltwater intrusion data required
Establishment of comprehensive Integrated Water Resource Management scheme
Water conservation
Water harvesting, increased water storage, improve reservoir capacity & reduce leaks
Watershed management
Public education & outreach (PEO)
Enhance flood plain areas of rivers and designate certain rural areas especially for storage
of freshwater surpluses, or establish underground rainwater harvesting.
Source: The TDCCS: Final Report
CLIMATE CHANGE SIMPLIFIED - Adaptation
Agriculture and Fisheries Adaptation
Adaptation needs and measures for agriculture in developed and developing countries differ
clearly. While in developed countries agriculture accounts for around 8% of overall employment,
in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, it accounts for 70% of regional employment and 35% of
gross national product. It is thus logic to see a more important focus on adapting agriculture in
developing economies, rather than in developed ones.
 Improve research and knowledge on the impacts (i.e. in food security) and costs of
adaptation options, giving special attention to indigenous and local crops, seeds and
technologies rather than to new crop varieties and technologies.
 Raise awareness and improve capacity building in the sector, including training farmers
and agricultural workers.
 Develop more efficient irrigation techniques, new cultivars, change cropping patterns.
 Improve research and knowledge on impacts, given the special relation of agriculture to
flood and drought risk management, biodiversity and market changes, a cross-sectoral
approach is particularly important for agriculture.
 Develop ex-situ conservation of variety of germplasm
 Improved efficiency of irrigation systems
 Research on full extent of impacts – soil erosion, land degradation, loss of fertility
 Improved data collection & management systems in fisheries
 Mangrove & reef protection measures
 Development of marine protected areas
 Develop alternatives – e.g. inundated coasts to aquaculture
 Public education & outreach
Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: Preparing Australian Agriculture, Fisheries and
Forestry for the Future
http://www.preventionweb.net/files/12860_ClimateChangeFisheriesTradeandCompe.pdf
CLIMATE CHANGE SIMPLIFIED - Adaptation
Health Adaptation
Climate change will have effects on human health and health services. The burden of
malnutrition, diarrhoeal, cardio-respiratory, and infectious diseases is likely to increase. Heat
waves, floods and droughts, and changes in the distribution of vector-borne diseases may cause
many deaths. In order to reduce vulnerability to the health effects of climate change it is
indispensable to reinforce health services globally through increased investment in health
infrastructure, improved research, enhancement of delivery capacities, awareness raising on
prevention strategies, development of early warning systems, etc.
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Increase investment in infrastructure
Improve research
Enhance delivery capacities
Raise awareness on prevention strategies
Develop early warning systems
CLIMATE CHANGE SIMPLIFIED - Adaptation
Tourism Adaptation
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Vulnerability studies
Strengthen legislative frameworks for coastal developments (EIA, land use policy,
enforcement)
Incorporate climate change concerns in development of tourism plans
Promote energy efficiency, water conservation & use of renewable energy
Public education & outreach (PEO)
Climate Change, its Consequences on Employment and Trade Union Action
http://www.tourism-climate.de/adaptation.htm
CLIMATE CHANGE SIMPLIFIED - Adaptation
Coastal Zone Adaptation
Coastal zones risk increased damage from floods and storms and experts affirm that if the global
average temperature goes up by 3°C, about 30% of global coastal wetlands will be lost and
millions of people could experience coastal flooding each year. Adaptation measures in coastal
zones often involve investments in infrastructure (reinforcement of beach dune belts,
construction of land drainage systems), but also changes in current practices (such as regular
dumping of dredged ediments from harbour aquatories) and change in regulations (for example,
managing land use in areas prone to coastal flooding risk or setting back lines to restrict coastal
development).
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Increase investments in infrastructure
Change aquaculture practices
Improve regulations for restricting coastal development
Engage with inhabitants for analyzing possibilities for relocation
Examples of obstacles preventing the advance of adaptation measures in coastal zones are
the large investments required, increased competition for public funds, and the
continuous pressure to promote real estate and economic development in coastal areas.
Some areas are particularly vulnerable and the option for relocation should be seriously
considered, as livelihood and/or physical environment of communities living in these
areas would be severely damaged, or could even disappear. In these cases, the competent
authorities should establish the adequate mechanisms in order to guarantee participation
of affected people in decision making processes.
Source: Coastal Impacts of Climate Change (IPCC, 2007)
CLIMATE CHANGE SIMPLIFIED - Adaptation
Ecosystems and Forests Adaptation
A 2°C rise in temperature will entail an increased risk of extinction for 30% of species and the
bleaching of practically all coral. The adaptation of natural ecosystems is very closely related to
other strategies such as mangrove conservation and forest management. How can natural
ecosystems adapt?
Efforts should be focused on research and impact assessment, strengthening monitoring
capabilities and community- based conservation programmes.
 Draw up and improve adaptation plans and practices specifically focused on
desertification, alpine environments, and protected areas need to be improved.
 Promote awareness in society and involve people (stakeholders, including workers) in the
assessments of the vulnerability of ecosystems and dependent industries or communities,
and in the formulation and implementation of specific adaptation strategies.
 Promote community-based conservation programmes and adaptation plans in the light of
desertification problems
Managing Forest Ecosystems: The Challenge of Climate Change
CLIMATE CHANGE SIMPLIFIED - Adaptation
Employment Adaptation
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Capacity constraints in public health services constitute a significant barrier in
developing countries. These include, for example, inadequate provisions of drinking
water in saline affected regions, lack of funding and consistent underinvestment in the
sector due to exhausted public funds and low direct returns for private investors.
Application of environmentally sound technologies for adaptation to climate change; United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Secretariat, Bonn, Germany, Technical
Paper FCCC/TP/2006/2, 107 p