Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability

Impacts refer to the effects of climate change on people, communities, and ecosystems, like floods or droughts. Adaptation involves making changes or taking actions—such as building flood defenses or switching to drought-resistant crops—to lessen these effects. Vulnerability is about how susceptible or exposed a community or environment is to harm from climate impacts; factors like poverty or geographic location can increase vulnerability. Together, understanding impacts, adaptation, and vulnerability helps us develop strategies to protect and support vulnerable populations and ecosystems in a changing climate.