This document discusses crucial elements of climate change adaptation. It defines adaptation as adjustments made in response to actual or expected climate impacts. There are two main types of adaptation: protective measures that guard against harms and opportunistic measures that exploit benefits. Essential elements of adaptation include building human and institutional capacity across key areas like education, health, agriculture, water management, and disaster preparedness. Effective adaptation requires institutional capacity for assessment and coordination, cooperation across different levels, and sufficient and sustained financing.

1. CRUCIAL ELEMENTS OF ADAPTATION
Ayesha Qaisrani
Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Islamabad

2. INTRODUCTION
Climate change is no more a
distant threat
Rising temperatures, erratic
rainfall, frequent natural
disasters , shifting growing
seasons
To deal with the rising
frequencies of climate
related issues, adaptation is
crucial

3. DEFINING ADAPTATION
IPCC defines adaptation
as:
• Adjustment in natural
and human systems in
response to actual
and/or expected climate
stimuli or their effects,
which moderates harm
or exploits beneficial
opportunities
Resilience
Vulnerability

4. TYPES OF ADAPTATION
Protective
• Guarding
against
negative
impacts of
climate
change
Opportunistic
• Taking
advantage of
the beneficial
impacts of
climate
change

5. ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS OF ADAPTATION
CAPACITY BUILDING
 Human Capital (social capital)
 Natural Capital
 Institutions and Governance
 Markets and Private Sector

6. AREAS OF FOCUS
 Education
 Health
 Agriculture and Livestock
 Water Management
 Disaster Preparedness
 Urban Planning
 Energy

7. Education
Raise CC awareness
Mainstream CC education in school curricula
Enhance ability to identify and understand impacts
Enhance ability to respond
Enhance technology and knowledge transfer
Urge academia and research organizations to address
knowledge gaps
Assess future climate risks

8. Health
Assess and reduce health vulnerabilities to CC
Identify vulnerable groups that are most affected by health
implications of climate change
Incorporate measures of addressing CC induced health issues in
the National Health Plans
Ensure availability of medication and clean drinking water to all
population
Strengthen disease monitoring and forecasting systems
Develop an effective response system to vector borne diseases

9. Agriculture & Livestock
Investments in research for developing new crops (heat resilient,
high yielding, less prone to insects and pests) and more CC
resilient breeds of livestock
Discouraging use of fertile agricultural land for other purposes;
diversification of crops; provision of enabling financial
environment
Use of energy efficient farm mechanisms and modern techniques
(laser land leveling, solar water desalination etc.) to enhance
crop productivity
Ensure availability of quality fodder for livestock and cattle

10. Water management
Protection of ground water through regulatory frameworks,
legislation, avoidance of excessive pumping, construction of
dams, recycling waste water etc.
Improve efficiency of irrigation systems (drip and sprinkler
irrigation, rainwater harvesting etc.)
Early warning systems for excessive water flows and potential
flooding
Increase awareness regarding conservation and sustainable
use of water resources

11. Disaster Preparedness
Raise awareness about CC related natural disasters and our
capacity to respond
Develop flood and drought adaptability of people living in flood
and drought plains
Conduct emergency handling trainings through NGOs and
volunteer programs
Encourage resettlements out of climate sensitive areas
Identify safe areas of evacuation
Carry out an integrated natural hazard zoning map of Pakistan
Develop climate resilient infrastructure

12. Urban Planning
Develop small agro-based towns with modern facilities
in rural areas to discourage rural-urban migration
Promote proper land use planning and vertical
expansion of urban housing projects
Construct climate resilient rural housing in hazard
sensitive areas

13. Energy
Rising energy demands and issues of climate friendly supply
Water scarcity a major issue
Use efficient energy mechanisms that produce least carbon
emissions
Opportunities of renewable energy (solar and wind energy)

14. Implementation Requirements

15. 1. INSTITUTIONAL CAPACITY
 Determines the ability to respond and implement
 Determined by the institutions’ ability of:
 Assessment of risk
 Prioritization of response
 Coordination
 Information management
 Climate risk management
 Ability to gather and synthesize resources

16. 2. COOPERATION
 Needed at local, regional, national and international
levels.
 Planning, prioritizing and implementing the
adaptation frameworks
 Take into account common but differentiated
responsibilities
 Monitoring and evaluation needs
 Private sector, civil society, academia etc.

17. 3. FINANCING
 More than $70-100 billions required for adaptation
(WB, 2013)
 Most finances required for making climate resilient
infrastructure
 Transfer of funds from developed countries to
developing countries to support adaptation
 Annual budgetary allocations

18. CONCLUSION
 Adaptation and mitigation are the only viable
options for sustainable development
 The need to mainstream climate change adaptation
in global development agendas
 Consider CC not just an environmental issue, but
also a cross-cutting development issue