Imagine you’re the mayor of a coastal city facing floods from rising sea levels. How would you take on this challenge? Well, you could build new roads and power plants farther inland to protect them from flood water. You might choose to restore natural defenses like wetlands, which can protect the coastline from storms. And you’ll probably want to create an early warning system to keep residents safe. These are just a few of the ways you could respond to the floods your city is facing.

Exploring adaptation solutions

Adaptation refers to the changes we can make to protect people, places, and ecosystems from climate change. Four key areas of adaptation are: agricultural systems, city planning and buildings, ecological systems, and new technology.

Agricultural systems are the ways we farm crops and animals for food. The whole world will need to change its agricultural systems to adjust to changing climate conditions. At the same time, we must grow enough food for a growing population. This is especially important in areas facing increased droughts and storms. In these areas, we will need to invest in growing crops that can withstand these changing conditions.

City planning solutions involve changing the built environment. For example, areas affected by flooding can build sea walls and flood-resistant buildings.

Ecological solutions involve using nature to combat climate change. In areas facing severe tropical storms, we can restore wetlands along coastlines, for example. Finally, we will need new technology to develop new tools and plans for adaptation. The creation of advanced storm warning systems is a great example.

Evaluating adaptation solutions

It’s clear that climate change affects us in many ways, so we will need many different solutions. But how can a community decide what action to take, and where to focus their resources?

Firstly, local needs are key. Each region of the world will be hit by different disasters, with varying degrees of damage. Each region has its own local climate, geography, and socioeconomic environment. This means different adaptation solutions will be better suited to different regions.

However, we can still evaluate and compare solutions overall based on three key points. First, time: How quickly can the solution make a difference? Second, cost: How much will it cost to make the changes, both upfront and in the long term? And third, impact potential: How much difference will the solution make? While this is not a complete list, it’s a helpful starting place.

Let’s use drought-tolerant crops as an example. As we experience more frequent and longer droughts, crops that are sensitive to drought will likely die, leading to massive food shortages. However, if we focus on growing more drought-tolerant plants, we can drastically improve food supply. Now, let’s evaluate the importance of this solution.

1. Time. Some drought-resistant plants, such as corn, already exist. Only a short time is needed to mass produce and distribute their seeds. Other crops will require more time for scientists to develop, but once planted, they will immediately increase the strength of the local food system, reducing the amount of crops lost from drought.
2. Cost. The main costs associated with drought-tolerant crops are related to research and distribution. The Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) is one of the largest international farming research institutions. We know that for every dollar spent on CGIAR, six dollars in benefits are generated, which means the costs are worth it.
3. Impact potential. Many regions around the world are facing longer periods of drought. A lot of these at-risk regions produce much of the world’s food supply, so they need drought-resistant crops. Any threat to the amount of food these regions can grow threatens food prices and accessibility everywhere. What’s more, these regions are home to millions of people who grow the food their families eat. Drought-tolerant crops have a huge chance to positively impact the lives of these farmers.

So what do you think? Are drought-tolerant crops a productive place to focus our efforts? They can be used quickly with immediate effects and they have a low cost compared to the benefits they produce. And drought-tolerant crops can make a significant difference for millions of people worldwide, particularly low-income farmers.

Implementing adaptation solutions

So far we’ve looked at how we can categorize adaptation solutions and ways to evaluate them. Now we must think about who should develop and carry out these solutions.

Many of those who are most at risk of climate change are the least responsible. Some communities and regions are already feeling the effects of climate change. This is not only due to their location, but a lack of resources, historical inequities, lack of political power, and reliance on the land. Without adaptation solutions, these communities will suffer the most. But who will pay for adaptation solutions to help them?

Take the example of drought-tolerant crops. Who should pay for the development and distribution of those seeds? Should it be the farmers who will grow the crops? Or should the countries that have caused the most greenhouse gases be responsible?

No matter who is responsible, it is clear these communities must not be ignored. In fact, we will need their input and support in tackling adaptation. Because any adaptation solution we pursue must ensure that everyone can survive and thrive in the face of climate change. Especially those who are most at risk and least responsible.