Adapting to Climate Change

Even if we were to prevent all future climate change, the situation were are in now is real and continuously changing.
We must thus take measures to adapt.
Climate models created by the IPCC show that the climate will warm by 1-3 degrees by the end of this century.
With no positive change this could be even worse than predicted.

Effects

Climate change will affect human livelihoods and the functioning of the whole community in many different ways.
A large proportion of the impacts are negative.

Climate change will have a large impact on food production and forestry, due to increased carbon dioxide levels, temperatures, changing rainfall patterns, extreme weather events, increased spread of weeds, pests and pathogens.
Negative impacts are undeniable, even in countries like Finland where an increase in global temperature might seem positive, the degradation of the Gulf Stream might lead to far colder winters than before.
In agricultural countries such as Africa and Latin America, food production will become more difficult due to droughts and heat.
The effects can even be seen in Europe, such as the droughts in Spain.

Settlements in low-lying coastal areas are at risk of being submerged by rising sea levels.
The loss of infrastructure, such as housing, roads and harbors will have a devastating impact on the economy.
Global warming is also likely to reduce capital investment in areas where climate change is expected to undermine economic activity.
Thus, global warming may slow down the development and prosperity of some poorer regions due to decreased money flow and harsher conditions.
Deteriorating conditions can lead to conflicts and refugees.
In poorer regions where people are more dependent on the environment, worse conditions can be lethal.
Government regulations, albeit for the greater good, can lead to slowed economic growth and changes in business structures for many companies, such as the fossil fuel industry.

The increase in extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts and floods due to increased rainfall pose a direct threat to human health.
Living conditions can deteriorate and can also cause economic losses, leading to poorer lifestyles with people not being able to afford food and healthcare.
Harmful infectious diseases, such as malaria, are expected to increase and spread to even more regions.
Microbes and bacteria that can cause infections diseases may become more prominent depending on the new conditions.
Flooding can also transport disease.

In addition to emission reduction targets, the Paris Agreement sets a long-term goal for adaptation to climate change.
This puts adaptation and the importance of adaptation plans on an equal footing with mitigation.
Many nations have made their own specific adaptation plans.
Most of the adaptation measures aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
Other adaptation measures include developing agriculture and forestry to cope with changing climate conditions and plans for urban areas to prepare for heat waves and floods.
Building cities meant to withstand the effects of climate change is also vital.