“Adaptation” refers to adjustments in ecological, social, or economic systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli and their effects or impacts. It refers to changes in processes, practices, and structures to moderate potential damages or to benefit from opportunities associated with climate change.

What this means in practice is that individuals, communities, cities and nations (‘We’) will need to adapt to the changes that will – inevitably – occur due to climate change and actions that mankind (but particularly the so-called ‘developed’ world) which have, is, and will continue to have on global warming.

Here the collective noun ‘We’ is used because all of us will be impacted in one way or another.  The difference is that some will be better equipped to adapt, others less so.  Some will be impacted more than other.  Some will be more capable or have more resources (money/skills/information) than others.

The least developed countries (LDCs) have not been the main originators of global warming and climate change, but they are the countries who, on the whole, will be impacted most and have less resources at hand to adapt.

Adaptation can range from building flood defences; protecting clean water sources; setting up early warning systems for cyclones and switching to drought-resistant crops; to redesigning communication systems, business operations and government policies.

Adaptation also encompasses making the most of any potential beneficial opportunities associated with climate change (for example, longer growing seasons or increased yields in some regions) and also lifting communities above the most basic of living standards to more lasting, resilient, stronger standards taken for granted by the developed world.

Adaptation clearly goes beyond just development to include measures which address additional risks specifically caused by climate change. It is still unclear how expensive these measures will be or who will pay for them, but the World Bank suggests adaptation could cost the same again as the world currently spends on development assistance.  Development Banks and national Development Finance Institutions (DFIs) are committing time, energy and finance to bring together NGOs, national and international bodies and the private sector to address the macro issues.  What is vital is that the communities themselves – the affected people are properly represented and co-developers of appropriate micro and local level solutions.   

Startle has the privilege of experience with, and understanding of, working at both the macro and the micro – developing and using globally applicable approaches to implement local solutions.