What It Means to “Adapt” to Climate Change — Part 2

Some Signs of Progress Toward Successful Adaptation Projects

Mangrove forests offer natural protection against storms and flooding. Photo from Mida Creek, Kenya. Photo credit: Timothy K on Unsplash

My previous blog discussed the case for much greater funding to help developing countries both reduce their greenhouse gas emissions (in climate policy terms “mitigation”), and to prepare for such impacts (in climate policy terms “adaptation”). I described the many challenges to the latter, especially the need for more proven, effective adaptation projects. Fortunately, there are signs of progress on both counts.

Donors are promising more finance for adaptation in developing countries. The importance of addressing climate risks is finally being recognized. For starters, the final text of the “Glasgow climate pact,” the agreement reached by the parties at COP26, settled on a call for developed nations to “at least double their collective provision of climate finance for adaptation” from 2019 levels by 2025. The World Bank and other international financial institutions, critical sources of risk capital, have promised that at least 50% of their climate related investments will be for adaptation. The Least Developed Countries Fund and Adaptation Fund, both of which support projects in some of the poorest and most…