Article Index
Adaptation to climate change: a powerful tool to reducing the overall cost of mitigation
Adaptation defined
Forms of adaptation
The EU's adaptation plan
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Adaptation defined
Adaptation, in a general sense, is defined as “Modification of a concept or object to make it applicable in situations different from originally anticipated.” A broad definition of adaptation, following the IPCC, relates to any adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities.  

Adaptation will reduce the negative impacts of climate change (and increase the positive impacts), but there will almost always be residual damage, often very large. The gross benefit of adaptation is the damage avoided. The net benefit of adaptation is the damage avoided, less the cost of adaptation.

The objective of adaptation is to reduce vulnerability to climatic change and variability, thereby reducing their negative impacts. It should also enhance the capability to capture any benefits of climate change. Hence adaptation, together with mitigation, is an important response strategy. Another warning from Stern is that without early and strong mitigation, the costs of adaptation will rise, and countries’ and individuals’ ability to adapt effectively will be constrained.

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