Responding to climate change requires a two-pronged approach that involves reducing greenhouse gas emissions, referred to as climate change mitigation, and adjusting activities and practices to reduce our vulnerability to potential impacts, referred to as adaptation. Mitigation is necessary to decrease both the rate and the magnitude of global climate change. Mitigation will not, however, prevent climate change from occurring. The nature of the Earth's climate systems means that temperatures would continue to rise, even after stabilization of CO2 and other greenhouse gases is achieved (Figure 8). Adaptation is therefore necessary to complement mitigation strategies. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol each include requirements for parties to consider climate change adaptation. The Kyoto Protocol, for example, states that parties must "facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change" (Article 10b, reference 13).

Figure 8: Carbon dioxide concentration, temperature and sea level continue to rise long after emissions are reduced (from reference 8). larger image [JPEG, 69.1 kb, 800 X 503, notice]

Adaptation refers to activities that minimize the negative impacts of climate change, and/or position us to take advantage of new opportunities that may be presented. Adaptation is not a new concept: humans have always adapted to change, and will continue to do so in the future. Canadians, for instance, have developed a range of strategies that have allowed us to deal effectively with our extremely variable climate. Consider our climate-controlled houses and offices, our warning systems for thunderstorms and tornadoes, and even our wide variety of seasonal clothing.

There are two main concerns with respect to our ability to adapt to future climate change. First, the rate of change projected by climate models is unprecedented in human history. As the rate of change increases, our ability to adapt efficiently declines. Second, as previously stated, the frequency and intensity of extreme events are projected to increase. In the past decade, losses from the 1998 ice storm, flooding in Manitoba and Quebec, drought and forest fires in western Canada, storm surges in Atlantic Canada, and numerous other events clearly demonstrate our vulnerability to climate extremes.

A number of different types of adaptation strategies have been identified to reduce vulnerability to climate change (see Table 1). Adaptation includes activities that are taken before impacts are observed (anticipatory), as well as those that occur after impacts have been felt (reactive). Adaptation can also be the result of deliberate policy decisions (planned adaptation), or it can occur spontaneously (autonomous adaptation). Adaptation in unmanaged natural systems will be reactive and autonomous, while managed systems will be able to benefit from anticipatory, planned adaptation strategies. Individuals and many different groups, including organizations, industry and all levels of government, will implement adaptation options. The most effective and cost-efficient adaptive responses will generally be anticipatory and involve collaborations among different groups.

Table 1: Adaptation strategies

In most cases, the goal of adaptation is to enhance adaptive capacity (see 'Directions' chapter). Adaptive capacity is defined as "the ability of a system to adjust to climate change (including climate variability and extremes), to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences." (14) A sector or region with a high adaptive capacity would generally be able to cope with, and perhaps even benefit from, changes in the climate, whereas one with a low adaptive capacity would be more likely to suffer as a result of the same change. In addition to reducing vulnerability to future climate change, enhancing adaptive capacity would also increase our ability to deal with present-day climate variability.