For more than two centuries the doomsday clock for climate change has been ticking away, looming over our heads like an inescapable nightmare. Yet, despite the countless warnings, humanity has neglected to address what may be the greatest danger to our survival. Regrettably, the consequences of our voluntary ignorance have arrived in full force and transformed climate change from a distant threat to a tragedy permeating all aspects of our lives. Thus, while standard practices of climate change prevention remain essential components in our fight against global warming, those efforts are no longer enough. Climate change adaptation has now become a necessary addition to our efforts.
Just last week, Spain experienced its deadliest flood in decades. A storm that began with only rain quickly swelled into devastating flash floods that tore through homes and communities, leaving behind a trail of horrific wreckage. Over 217 lives were lost and thousands more were left without power, food, or running water. But this catastrophe was no ordinary disaster. As Hannah Cloke, Professor of Hydrology at the University of Reading, stated, “This has the fingerprints of climate change on it, these heavy rainfalls, and these devastating floods.” Augmenting the destruction of the flood was the Spanish government’s lack of preparation and failure to give timely warnings and support in this crucial time of need. This flood in Spain and similar devastations convey an important message: we need to do more.
The challenge with climate change prevention lies largely in its relationship with fossil fuels. Accounting for 80 percent of our world’s energy, fossil fuels underpin our economy and daily lives. Yet, at the same time, it also accounts for 74 percent of greenhouse gas emissions. While the intent to find a new energy source has been present, the transition has been difficult.
The immense profitability of fossil fuels to various industries complicates the situation further.
Data from ClientEarth states that fossil fuels and fossil fuel practices are produced in a “treadmill fashion,” where one round of investment and growth increases support for more investment and production, resulting in rising demand. This allows fossil fuels to power economies while simultaneously pushing our world further into a state of irrevocable damage. Such a relationship therefore makes it even harder to depart from fossil fuels due to the opposition of companies whose business model is heavily reliant on fossil fuels. For example, when early vehicle producers began to use gasoline, which is obtained from fossil fuel and is both cheap and efficient, they beat their electric competition and dominated the market. With a majority of the car industry’s profitability heavily dependent on fossil fuel, the move to a new fuel source is exceedingly difficult and one many are unwilling to make.
Yet while the world stayed stuck in the same place due to conflicting interests, we have unwittingly entered into a new era where climate change is no longer a transformation but a permanent state of the Earth. The 2024 State of Climate Report affirms this grim reality, stating, “We are stepping into a critical and unpredictable new phase of the climate crisis.” It is no longer a matter of slowing down the change, but rather a complete breakdown of our climate.
The severity of the situation, however, is also what allows for climate change adaptation to be successful. Historically, the impacts of climate change seemed to affect only underdeveloped countries. However, as events such as Spain’s recent floods demonstrate, even affluent communities are being threatened now, proving that no one is immune. This shared vulnerability has the power to unite people together with the common goal of survival. According to the study Common Ground and Coordination in Joint Activity, coordination requires predictability, which details the ability of each collaborator “to predict the actions of other parties with a reasonable degree of accuracy” and relies on common ground. In this sense, the newfound unity of people, with all now equally vulnerable to the climate crisis, serves as a propellor of success for climate change adaptation.
Moreover, while climate change prevention is an act that requires the alteration of the fundamental systems and habits that our society functions on, climate change adaptation does not require such dramatic transformations. Instead, it focuses on targeted actions. According to a study by James Patterson in which he observed the diversity and drivers of institutional climate adaptation in 96 major cities, he noted that most institutions demonstrated a “tendency towards ‘softer’ rather than ‘harder’ action.” Further evidence from Patterson’s study shows that 92 percent of the alterations were measures taken on areas such as policy coordination and collaboration, while the second most common at 88 percent were changes in planning, mainstreaming, and communication. Additionally, climate change adaptation is attainable because it is mostly enacted at the government level. In Patterson’s study, local governments led 52 percent of adaptation initiatives, with only 13 percent of the leadership coming from civilians and communities. Such centralization of power thus simplifies the collaborative parties involved and allows for a clearer direction of action, making climate change adaptation a viable process that can be more easily incorporated into our lives.
Research also demonstrates that climate adaptation is already being put into place and is highly effective. Gigi Owen’s study on the effectiveness of climate change adaptation found that there was a 61 percent improvement in reducing the biophysical and social vulnerability to potential climate hazards, a 53 percent increase in improvement of environmental quality, and a 54 percent improvement in enhancing social well-being — a category that addresses relationships, community building, collaboration, and improved access to resources and information. These findings show promise that well-planned adaptation can make a difference and tangibly build up our resilience against climate impacts.
We can no longer ignore the reality that climate change is our new normal. Therefore, while measures to stop further damage to our climate must continue, we can no longer rely solely on such efforts that look toward the far future. Adaptation, which is a solution that addresses the crises that are affecting us now, is more important than it has ever been. By incorporating adaptation into our approach, we create a world where communities are equipped with the resources and infrastructure necessary to minimize their vulnerability to climate-fuelled disasters. Through climate change adaptation, we can become a more resilient world that prevents rather than simply reacts.
