Adaptation, Climate Change

Jason Byrne

Anthropogenic (human-caused) climate change will seriously test our ability to plan and manage cities. Taken-for-granted urban institutions such as housing, industries, schools, hospitals, and transport systems will all likely be affected. Although the scale and intensity of impacts will vary, anticipated problems will have pernicious consequences, especially for the poor and politically disenfranchised. This article considers climate change adaptation concepts, issues, and responses. Beginning by briefly defining mitigation, adaptation, vulnerability, and resilience, this article identifies key players, provides examples of how some cities are already addressing threats, and discusses limitations to current adaptation practices. Four key concepts are central to how the world's cities are adapting to climate change. Early climate change responses hinged on the not ion of reducing or offsetting human-caused greenhouse gases—an idea referred to as mitigation . However, some degree of climate change is now inevitable. The differential effect of climate change on natural and social ...

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