Climate Change Adaptation

What adaptationcommunity.net is about

Adaptation to climate change is much about ‘doing things differently because of climate change’ (Bo Lim), or making the right decision in light of climate change. Tools, approaches and instruments are necessary to guide decision makers of the public and private sector. With the right strategy, adaptation can be anchored in all affected sectors, like agriculture, water, health, biodiversity and transport. Although it is not possible to adapt to all impacts of climate change, climate risk management and disaster risk management can be improved.

Through its comprehensive risk management approach, German development cooperation supports the efforts of its partners to implement the international agendas on sustainable (Agenda 2030) and urban development (New Urban Agenda), climate change mitigation and adaptation (Paris Agreement) and disaster risk management (Sendai Framework on Disaster Risk Reduction).

This approach enables individuals, the private sector and both state and non-state actors to factor in various risks when deciding on appropriate precautions and aims at making the projects and international partnerships funded by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) more effective.

Rather than a series of individual measures, comprehensive risk management combines both tried-and-tested and innovative instruments from the fields of climate change mitigation, climate change adaptation, disaster risk management and social protection into a single holistic approach (see the graphic on the left).

adaptationcommunity.net was developed for the interested public and adaptation experts to provide information on applying approaches, methods and tools that facilitate the planning and implementation of adaptation action. Enhancing knowledge and sharing experience is the key to successful adaptation strategies. Therefore, this platform offers a wealth of information, online sessions and trainings on eleven key topics along the comprehensive risk management approach:

  • Climate Services (CS) provide decision-makers with customized ready-to-use climate information and products (forecasts or historical trends) to effectively manage climate risk.
  • As the negative impacts of climate change are expected to intensify in the near future, Comprehensive Climate Risk Management (CRM) aims at averting, minimizing and addressing loss and damage.
  • Climate and Disaster Risk Finance and Insurance (CDRFI) aims to increase resilience and provide protection against climate and disaster risks for vulnerable people and communities.
  • The National Adaptation Plan (NAP) process aims to integrate adaptation into development planning and to reduce vulnerability to climate change. As the primary national planning process for adaptation, it can support the implementation of NDC adaptation goals.
  • Mainstreaming of Adaptation systemically includes climate risk and adaptation considerations in decision-making and planning processes.
  • Ecosystem-based Adaptation (EbA) is the sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystems to help people adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.
  • Agroecology aims at transforming agricultural and food systems towards climate resilience and adaptiveness in order to achieve food security for all.
  • Urban Climate Resilience refers to the ability of an urban system – and its components – to absorb, adapt to, and recover from the various shocks and stresses exacerbated by climate change, while ensuring the well-being of its inhabitants.
  • Climate Change and Migration looks at how extreme weather events and gradual changes impact human mobility: migration, (disaster) displacement, as well as planned relocation. 
  • Private Sector & Adaptation responds to climate-related economical risks and seizes business opportunities in order to safeguard operations, to strategically create sustainable growth and to increase societal resilience.
  • Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) helps keeping track of the implementation of adaptation measures and assessing their effectiveness and outcomes. The Paris Agreement encourages “M&E and learning from adaptation plans, policies, programmes and actions” (Article 7.9d).

GIZ’s position on climate change adaptation is summarized in this position paper. If you have any further questions or want to share your experiences don’t hesitate to contact us or follow us on Twitter (@Adapt_Community).

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