Last edited 03 Jan 2025

Maladaptation

Global Warming of 1.5 ºC, Glossary, published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in 2018, defines maladaptive actions or maladaptation as: ‘Actions that may lead to increased risk of adverse climate-related outcomes, including via increased GHG emissions, increased vulnerability to climate change, or diminished welfare, now or in the future. Maladaptation is usually an unintended consequence.’

Heritage Building Retrofit Toolkit, published by the City of London Corporation in March 2024, defines maladaptation as: ‘Poor or insufficient adaptation. In a climate change context, maladaptation refers to actions intended to reduce the impacts of climate change that actually create more risk and vulnerability.’

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