ABSTRACT
Adaptation refers to attempts on the part of individuals and societies to respond to, moderate, or benefit from impacts brought about by human induced climate change, for example building dikes to prevent flooding or enjoying longer growing seasons. Impacts include extreme temperatures and temperature variability, sea-level rise and significant changes in weather patterns leading to more frequent and extreme weather related events such as environmental disasters. If left unattended, climate change could seriously disrupt socioeconomic and ecological systems (IPCC 2007). In order to ensure that countries started to address the issue of climate impacts and take steps to adapt, the 1992 Convention of the climate change regime states that signatory parties should: “facilitate adequate adaptation”, “cooperate in preparing for adaptation” and “assist developing countries . . . in meeting the costs of adaptation” (UNFCCC 1992: Article 4). This last provision was based on arguments that developed countries were largely responsible for climate change and that the impacts would fall disproportionately on the poorer, least developed countries and especially indigenous peoples and local communities (IPCC 2007). Such assistance for adaptation via financial flows, knowledge support and technology transfer could be seen as a means of promoting environmental justice.
