Adaptation options
A wide range of options on how to adapt to a changing ratios can be achieved by implementing some adap-
climate is available, but more adaptation than is hap- tation measures early, compared with retrofitting long-
pening now is needed to reduce vulnerability. Humans, lived infrastructure at a later date.
other species, physical features and natural processes
are all potentially vulnerable to the impacts of a chang- Examples of adaptation strategies include:
ing climate, though to widely differing degrees. Vulner- water: increased rainwater harvesting, water stor-
ability can be intensified by other stresses, for example age and conservation, water re-use, desalination,
poverty, hunger, trends in globalization, conflict, and greater efficiency in water use and irrigation;
diseases like HIV/Aids. The ability to adapt to the con- agriculture: altering planting dates and crop va-
sequences of a warmer climate and thus to reduce its rieties, relocating crops, better land management
vulnerability to those depends closely on social and (for example erosion control and soil protection by
economic development and is unevenly distributed planting trees);
both within and between societies. But even societies infrastructure: relocating people, building sea-
with high adaptive capacity remain vulnerable to cli- walls and storm surge barriers, reinforcing dunes,
mate change, variability and extremes. For example, creating marshes and wetlands as buffers against
a heat wave in 2003 caused high levels of mortality sea level rise and floods;
in European cities (especially among the elderly), and human health: action plans to cope with threats
Hurricane Katrina in 2005 caused large human and fi- from extreme heat, emergency medical services,
nancial costs in the United States. better climate-sensitive disease surveillance and
control, safe water and improved sanitation;
While little is known about the costs and benefits of tourism: diversifying attractions and revenues, moving
adaptation at the global level, studies at the regional ski slopes to higher altitudes, artificial snow-making;
and project levels of impacts on specific sectors such transport: realigning and relocating routes, design-
as agriculture, energy demand for heating and cool- ing roads, railways and other transport equipment
ing, water resources management and infrastructure to cope with warming and drainage;
are growing in number. These studies demonstrate energy: strengthening overhead transmission and
that there are viable adaptation options available at distribution networks, putting some cabling under-
low cost and/or with high benefit-cost ratios. Empiri- ground, energy efficiency and renewable energy, re-
cal research also suggests that higher benefit-cost duced dependence on single energy sources.
Adaptation and mitigation 49
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