Climate Change Adaptation: Normative Considerations

Abstract

The mean surface temperature of the Earth has already warmed nearly 1ºC. Even if ambitious mitigation aims are realized it will warm another 0.5-1Cº this century. This will affect sea levels, water supplies, storm incidence and intensities, crop growing patterns, droughts, heatwaves, and disease vectors. the effects are likey to be uneven, and the capacities of people to adapt are currently very unequal. Millions of poor people are vulnerable and have very limited means to adapt. All of this threatens hunger, innundation, conflict, and mass migration. How should planning for adaptation be directed? Should the most vulnerable be identified and prioritzed ? How should vulnerability be identified? Or is generalized development assistance best? What is the best principle for assigning responsibility for funding adaptation? What institutions could do the work? How do the problems of mobilizing internation cooperation for adaptation differ from those mobilizing international cooperation for mitigation?