IPCC special report: Climate adaptation needs multilevel support

According to the IPCC report on 1.5 degree Celsius climate-related risks for natural and human systems are higher for global warming of 1.5 degree Celsius than at present but lower than 2 degree Celsius. These risks depend partly on the choices and implementation of adaptation and mitigation policies. Adaptation options can reduce the vulnerability of human and natural systems, can have synergies with the objectives of sustainable devlopment.: ensuring food and water security, reducing disaster risks, improving health conditions, maintaining ecosystem services and reducing poverty and inequality. The report states that investment in social and infrastructure will enhance the resilience and adaptive capacity. But adaptation to 1.5 degree Celsius will lead to adverse impacts on sustainable development.

 For example, poorly designed adaptation projects can increase in the emission of greenhouse gases, increase gender and social inequality etc. Hence adaptation efforts must pay attention to poverty and sustainable development. A participatory approach of adaptation is also needed. It is important that support for adaptation is directed into right channels. This requires a framework to identify useful adaptation interventions. Disaster risk management is one of the examples. According to the report, there is a need to integrate DRM and adaptation to reduce the vulnerability. The report also identified education adaptation options which motivate adaptation through building awareness. Another similar approach is to focus on enhancing current health services. This includes providing access to clean drinking water and improved sanitation.