Adaptation

Climate Change 2021, The Physical Science Basis, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in 2021, defines adaptation in human systems as: ‘…the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects, in order to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate and its effects.’

It defines adaptation options as: 'The array of strategies and measures that are available and appropriate for addressing adaptation. They include a wide range of actions that can be categorised as structural, institutional, ecological or behavioural.'

The National Planning Policy Framework (NPPF) defines climate change adaptation as: ‘Adjustments made to natural or human systems in response to the actual or anticipated impacts of climate change, to mitigate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities.’ This definition was repeated in the revised NPPF in 2024.

Competence frameworks for the built environment – Core criteria for sustainability competence - Code of practice , Version 3, published by the Edge for the Construction Industry Council in February 2025, states: ‘in human systems, the process of adjustment to actual or expected climate and its effects, in order to moderate harm or exploit beneficial opportunities. In natural systems, the process of adjustment to actual climate and its effects; human intervention may facilitate adjustment to expected climate.’

See also:

• Autonomous adaptation.
• Building adaptation.
• Climate adaptation.
• Evolutionary adaptation.
• National Adaptation Programme.
• Resilient adaptation.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Autonomous adaptation.
• Carbon.
• Climate change
• Climate change adaptation.
• COP21 Paris 2015.
• Evolutionary adaptation.
• Greenhouse gases.
• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change IPCC.
• Kyoto Protocol.
• Sustainability.