Climate adaptation

The process of taking action to adjust to the current or expected climate and its effects in order to reduce harm or take advantage of potential benefits. This process differs between human and natural systems. In human systems, adaptation involves updating infrastructure or changing practices to cope with climate impacts (e.g., constructing seawalls to protect coastal cities to maintain crop yields). In natural systems, adaptation occurs as ecosystems adjust to changing conditions. Human conditions can sometimes support this adjustment (e.g., restoring degraded wetlands, which naturally absorb floodwaters, can naturally enhance their ability to protect against extreme weather events). (Source: IPCC Sixth Assessment Report Annex II: Glossary and Toolkit project team)