Adaptation (climate)

Straightforward on the surface, but heavily contested underneath. Who adapts, who pays for it, and who decides what counts as "adapted" are all political questions. In practice, adaptation agendas in the Global South are often shaped by Global North funding priorities rather than local needs. The sharpest question: when we call displacement 'adaptation,' whose accountability disappears?

Often framed as a technical, apolitical process - we just need to adjust. But adaptation policy reveals deep power asymmetries. Wealthy nations historically responsible for emissions set adaptation funding levels and criteria for developing nations who bear the brunt of impacts. Corporately, "climate adaptation" can become a rebranding exercise - continuing extractive business models while adding a resilience overlay. The term can also be used to normalise unacceptable levels of harm: calling something "adaptation" rather than "loss" or "forced displacement" softens political accountability.

Adjusting to what's coming