How to make climate adaptation a success

“Successfully adapting to the impacts of climate change is just as difficult and challenging as reducing emissions of every kind,” says Anita Engels, Professor of Sociology and leading author of the assessment. “Yet, both are needed.”

On the basis of nine case studies in diverse geographical contexts, including Nepal, Namibia, Lower Saxony (Germany), São Paulo, Ho Chi Minh City, Hamburg, North Frisia (Germany), Taiwan, and the Maldives, CLICCS researchers have analyzed a broad range of adaptation measures in response to climate risks. None of the cases assessed can currently be regarded as exemplifying a sustainable adaptation strategy. However, Hamburg, North Frisia, and Ho Chi Minh City were able to demonstrate initial approaches to transformative adaptation. The research teams, which included people from the contexts under investigation, furthermore identified key conditions for sustainable climate adaptation.

Developing sustainable measures together with the local populace

“Sustainability is not just a ‘nice-to-have’”, says Beate Ratter, Professor of Geography and author of the assessment. “When adaptation isn’t sufficiently thought through, the side-effects can cancel out the successes.” For example, poorly chosen coastal protection measures might help combat flooding but can, in the long run, lead to the loss of stabilizing sediments or harm sheltering coral reefs. Similarly, forests that are restored with monocultures are especially vulnerable to pest infestations and fires.

The study assesses the quality of adaptation measures in three categories. The first stage involves direct responses to crises like flooding or drought (coping). The measures in the second stage are more forward-thinking. Preventive adaptation measures are pursued step by step in order to avoid or mitigate negative climate impacts in the near future (incremental). The third stage, sustainable adaptation, calls for redefining structures and processes – a transformation. These measures produce long-term effects, reduce risks, and are jointly shaped and implemented by the local populace (transformative). They produce as few additional emissions as possible and are oriented on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), so as not to do harm elsewhere. For instance, they preserve biodiversity and conserve natural resources.