Climate Change Adaptation (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Environmental Management): Revision Note

Climate change adaptation strategies

• Adaptation involves changing our behaviour, practices and infrastructure that allow us to cope with the impacts that climate change will bring

Changes in agricultural practise

• Agricultural systems will need to adapt to changing weather patterns, different pests and diseases

• Changing crops or the livestock raised to suit the climatic conditions

• More irrigation may be required, which will need careful management of water supplies

• Development of drought-resistant crops

• Floating gardens where crops are planted on platforms which rise with the level of water

Benefits

• Adaptations will reduce the impacts of crop failure or livestock deaths, which may lead to food insecurity and possible famine

• Also reduces the possible negative economic impact

• Changes require investment but this does not have to be expensive, for example providing livestock with shelter from heat

Limitations

• Limitations to changes are a lack of money and a lack of access to water

• Farmers in some LICs will need external assistance, especially with costs

Improved flood defences

• This will help reduce risks from extreme weather events

• Strategies include flood shelters, houses on stilts, seawalls, and storm surge barriers

Benefits

• Defences reduce the impact of flooding from more extreme weather, rising sea levels and coastal erosion

• Agriculture won't be destroyed, people won't have to move, livelihoods can continue, and financial losses will be minimised

• Coastal ecosystems won't be destroyed

• Wetland vegetation can grow beneath stilt-supported homes

Limitations

• Coastal habitats may be disturbed, and some strategies may be costly to implement and maintain

Land use zoning

• This makes sure that buildings are not constructed on floodplains or too near vulnerable coastlines

Benefits

• By introducing legislation, the likelihood of homes and businesses flooding is reduced

• Critical buildings such as hospitals and schools should be constructed away from at-risk zones  so that they can remain open

Limitations

• However, it's not always possible to control urban growth and some people are prepared to live with the risk

New building designs

• It is beneficial to install cooling systems, upgrade heat insulation, and install reflective roofing

• By 2050, an estimated 1.6 billion people will live in over 970 cities that frequently experience high temperatures, endangering people's lives

Benefits

• Urban forest planting provides wildlife habitat and cools the surrounding area

• It is possible to incorporate traditional designs; for instance, new homes are built with wide openings to improve ventilation in Laos

Limitations

• The majority of settlements in LICs are self-built, and residents lack access to modern building supplies

• The cost of building the homes may increase due to new designs, materials, and regulations