Climate Change Adaptation (HL IB ESS OLD COURSE - IGNORE)

Revision Note

Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

  • As the impacts of climate change increase, it is essential to implement adaptation strategies to reduce adverse effects and maximise any potential positive outcomes

    • Climate change adaptation strategies focus on building resilience and adapting to changing climate conditions

Climate Change Adaptation Strategies

Adaptation Strategy

How to Implement Strategy

Flood Defences

Construct and reinforce flood protection infrastructure (levees, flood barriers, coastal defences)

Implement sustainable drainage systems (SUDs) to manage and control excess water during heavy rainfall events

Restore and preserve natural floodplains, wetlands, and mangroves as natural buffers against flooding

Vaccination Programmes

Develop and implement proactive public health measures, including vaccination programs

Strengthen disease surveillance systems to monitor and respond to climate-related health impacts, such as the spread of vector-borne diseases in new regions

Desalination Plants

Invest in desalination technologies to increase freshwater availability in water-scarce regions

Ensure sustainability through energy-efficient methods, renewable energy use and responsible environmental management

Planting of Crops in Previously Unsuitable Areas

Expand cultivation into areas now suitable due to shifting climate patterns

Diversify crop varieties to adapt to new environmental conditions and enhance food security

Adapting Agricultural Practices

Promote adoption of drought-resistant crops and resilient crop varieties

Implement soil management techniques to conserve water and nutrients in changing climate conditions

Land Zoning and Building Code Changes

Update zoning regulations to consider climate risks like sea-level rise and extreme weather events

E.g. restrict development in areas prone to flooding or require elevated construction; limit development along vulnerable coastlines

Strengthen building codes to enhance resilience against hurricanes, floods, wildfires and heatwaves

E.g. enforce building materials and landscaping practices that reduce fire risk; promote green spaces and reflective building materials to mitigate urban heat islands

Photo of a mangrove forest
Mangrove forests act as natural buffers against flooding (Photo by David Clode on Unsplash)

Examiner Tips and Tricks

Mitigation Strategies aim to reduce or prevent the emission of greenhouse gases and lessen the severity of future climate change.

Adaptation Strategies, on the other hand, focus on adjusting and preparing for the impacts of climate change that are already occurring or are inevitable.

Adaptation Plans

  • Adaptation plans are strategies designed to help individuals, communities and societies cope with the impacts of climate change

  • These plans aim to:

    • Reduce vulnerability to climate-related hazards

    • Increase resilience to climate change impacts

National Adaptation Programmes of Action (NAPAs)

What are NAPAs?

  • NAPAs are plans developed by Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to identify and prioritise urgent adaptation needs

    • These plans are submitted to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

  • They focus on immediate actions to address climate change impacts, particularly in sectors like agriculture, water resources and health

  • For example:

    • Bangladesh: has implemented NAPA projects to improve flood forecasting and early warning systems

    • Malawi: has developed strategies to enhance food security through drought-resistant crops and sustainable land management

Resilience and adaptation plans

  • Resilience plans aim to strengthen the ability of communities and ecosystems to recover from climate shocks

  • Adaptation plans focus on long-term strategies to adjust to changing climate conditions

  • For example:

    • New York City One NYC plan: includes measures to protect against coastal flooding and enhance green infrastructure

    • Netherlands Delta Programme: involves constructing robust flood defences and adaptive water management systems to protect against sea-level rise

    • UK Climate Change Risk Assessment (CCRA) identifies key risks and adaptation priorities, such as flood risk management and resilient infrastructure

UN Development Programme (UNDP) Assistance

Role of UNDP

  • The UNDP helps developing countries create and implement adaptation plans

  • Provides technical and financial support to address the most imminent impacts of climate change

  • Process:

    • Assess local vulnerabilities and climate risks

    • Develop action plans prioritising urgent needs

    • Implement projects with community involvement

  • For example:

    • Samoa, with UNDP support, has improved its coastal infrastructure to protect communities from storm surges

    • Bhutan has developed climate-resilient agricultural practices to adapt to changing weather patterns

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Alistair Marjot

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Expertise: Biology & Environmental Systems and Societies

Alistair graduated from Oxford University with a degree in Biological Sciences. He has taught GCSE/IGCSE Biology, as well as Biology and Environmental Systems & Societies for the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme. While teaching in Oxford, Alistair completed his MA Education as Head of Department for Environmental Systems & Societies. Alistair has continued to pursue his interests in ecology and environmental science, recently gaining an MSc in Wildlife Biology & Conservation with Edinburgh Napier University.

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