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Adaptation DefinedAdaptation in the context of climate change refers to actions required to achieve sustainable adjustments to future changes in the global climate. These include changes in average weather conditions and changes in the frequency and magnitude of hazardous weather such as droughts, floods, windstorms and tornadoes. This involves taking steps to minimize the negative impacts of future climate change, while at the same time taking advantage of new opportunities presented by this change. Adaptation needs depend on the impacts of climate change. While many policies around climate change focus on reducing atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases through emission reductions and long term storage of gases in biologic and geologic systems, it is important to recognize that mitigation targets, as presently defined by the Kyoto Protocol, only serve to reduce the rate at which global warming is occurring. They will not prevent warming from occurring. For this reason, the Kyoto Protocol also includes commitments for parties to continue study of the impacts of climate changes and to develop appropriate adaptation strategies. What is adaptation? (slide) Why is adaptation needed? (slide) For more information see: Government of Canada - Climate Change Impacts and Adaptation: A Canadian Perspective Taking Action on Climate Change
IPCC 2001. Climate Change 2001: Scientific Basis, Contributions of Working Group I to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Houghton,J.T. et al. (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK IPCC 2001. Climate Change 2001: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability, Contributions of Working Group II to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Houghton,J.T. et al. (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK IPCC 2001. Climate Change 2001: Synthesis Report to the Third Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change [Houghton,J.T. et al. (eds.)]. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK
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