CLIMATE CHANGE – ADAPTING TO THE FUTURE

Climate change will hit us first through water

The climate is changing and the impact is first and foremost through water. Some places will become wetter. Heavier rainfalls will occur and the sea level will rise. Flooding will become more frequent. In contrast other places will become drier and the lack of water will have serious implications. Mitigation and adaption is how to address the issues.

IPCC states that there are two responses to climate change, which must go hand in hand. The first response, mitigation, involves reduction of emissions to slow or stop the process of climate change. The second response, adaptation, is learning to cope with temperature increases, extreme events and the higher sea levels associated with the temperature increases.

Many of the areas, which are expected to experience the most dramatic consequences of climate change, will most likely also be exposed to more severe and frequent natural disasters. Since the exact consequences of climate change are still uncertain, it is necessary to develop flexible and robust adaption coping strategies – strategies which focus on enhancing community resilience in a broader sense, including resilience towards natural hazards. It is possible to adapt to the impact of climate change by being prepared to handle the various likely scenarios. This is what we do.