Mapped: Climate adaptation around the world
From floating islands to fog harvesting, Carbon Brief’s interactive map looks at how people around the world are adapting to the impacts of climate change.
Adaptation means building resilience to the impacts of climate change, such as more intense heatwaves or heavier rainfall. It complements mitigation efforts that attempt to limit climate risks through greenhouse gas emissions reductions.
The profile of adaptation has grown in the climate policy arena over recent years and it was a central pillar in the Paris Agreement. However, it is still underfinanced, particularly compared to the resources being donated to mitigation.
According to a report by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) released earlier this year, climate change adaptation could cost $500bn per year by 2050 – and that’s only in developing countries. There is a risk that there will not be enough funds to meet requirements. UNEP says that in 2014 total funding for adaptation was $22.5bn.
A new report from the UN’s climate body estimates that finance for adaptation made up only 25% of the total funds received by developing countries in 2013 and 2014.
For our map, Carbon Brief has selected examples from both developed and developing countries, recognising that all nations are feeling the impacts of climate change, regardless of their wealth.
Some are major infrastructure projects, while others are community-led initiatives. Some have millions of dollars of government funding, while others involve only the most basic level of resources. Some will benefit whole cities, while others protect rural villages.
All of them aim to improve and save lives in the future of a changing climate.