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What is adaptation and why does it matter?

Within the science community, there is now broad consensus on the reality of human-induced climate change. The expert panel of scientists who make up the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) conclude, in their Fourth Assessment, that it is 90 to 99 per cent likely that the rise in global atmospheric temperature since the mid-19th century has been caused by human activity. The report predicts that the average global temperature may rise by about 3 degrees Celsius by the end of the 21st century, while sea level could rise by as much as 59 centimeters. Some projections point to summer sea ice in the Arctic disappearing completely by the year 2100.
Heat-waves and periods of heavy rainfall are "very likely" to become more frequent, but tropical cyclones, though they may become more intense, could be less frequent. There is now clear scientific evidence that climate change is real. But what can we do about it? In essence, there are two types of response. The first, mitigation, involves reducing emissions of greenhouse gases to slow or stop the process of climate change. The second, adaptation, is learning to cope with the temperature increases, floods and higher sea levels associated with climate change. The spotlight is now on adaptation for two reasons. First, people are realizing that some climate change impacts are inevitable. Even if emissions of all greenhouse gases were to stop immediately, average temperatures would continue to rise for some time because of lags in the Earth's natural processes. As a result, adaptation and mitigation are not alternative strategies but rather, complementary ones: both need to be pursued together. Secondly, while scientists are clear on the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to stop global warming, action on the ground by politicians, businesses and individuals has been slow. Inadequate mitigation therefore makes the need to adapt to climate change impacts all the more pressing.
Who needs to adapt most?
Climate change is a global problem, so all countries must work to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and learn how to cope with the impacts of climate change. Developing countries, however, have relatively small greenhouse gas emissions, so mitigation is less important for them. Adaptation is more relevant for poorer nations because of their relative vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, which stems partly from geographic location in areas such as drought-prone sub-Saharan Africa or flood-prone Bangladesh. These countries' adaptive capacity is also lower than that of developed countries because of their limited financial resources, skills and technologies and high levels of poverty. Reliance on climate sensitive sectors such as agriculture and fishing is also high.
The IPCC recognizes the entire continent of Africa to be one of the most vulnerable to climatic variability and change because of multiple stresses, such as poverty, and its low adaptive capacity. The panel (IPCC) also cites small islands in both the tropics and higher latitudes as especially vulnerable to the effects of climate change, sea level rise and extreme events.
Least Developed Countries (LDCs) are also identified by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) as among the most at risk from climate change, and as such receive support to identify their most urgent adaptation needs through National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs).
Adaptation in different sectors
Many developing countries have a good core of professional planners and managers operating in key sectors, but they are usually unaware of the potential impacts of climate change on their respective sector. Climate risk assessment needs to be incorporated into development activities by all of these professionals.
Agriculture and food security
This sector is at great risk from climate change in most developing countries. The IPCC states that in many African countries and regions, agricultural production, including access to food, is projected to be severely compromised by climate variability and change. Adaptation activities include using drought-resistant crops, introducing new farming techniques and diversifying income sources. India and Mali, for instance, are known for their strong agricultural professionals, and integrating climate change concerns into policy and planning is quite advanced in both, but in other countries less progress has been made.
Water resources
The IPCC states that in Africa by 2020, "between 75 and 250 million people are projected to be exposed to an increase of water stress due to climate change". The amount of knowledge on climate change impacts varies according to region, with more in South Asia than in Africa. For example, Bangladesh is renowned for the quality and strength of its water resource managers. Professionals involved in planning and managing for irrigation, flood management and drinking water provision need to incorporate climate change risk management into their regular practices for designing water structures and measures.
Coastal zone management
This is an important sector in South Asia (Bangladesh and India in particular) as well as in the Gambia, Senegal and Tanzania in Africa. Planning for sea-level rise and vulnerability to storms and cyclones are both important. Coastal cities such as Alexandria in Egypt, and Banjul in the Gambia, will be particularly vulnerable.
Health
The potential impacts of climate change on human health are huge but poorly understood. Christian Aid estimates that 182 million people in sub-Saharan Africa will die of climate change related diseases before the end of the century - yet health professionals have little understanding of what health impacts to expect, and how to cope with them.