Overcoming the barriers to climate change adaptation

This guide highlights approaches that can help to overcome hurdles to planning and implementing climate change adaptation actions. They include: the consideration of possible barriers from the start of the adaptation planning process; interventions to address market, governance and policy failures; the use of iterative adaptation approaches that allow learning from experience; and the integration (mainstreaming) of adaptation into development. 

As adaptation moves from theory to practice, there is growing recognition that barriers may make it difficult for individuals, businesses and governments to plan and implement adaptation actions. These involve a variety of issues, especially for long-term decisions, and include economic, political economy and governance challenges. Addressing these barriers is critical to advancing climate compatible development.