What's New?

Adaptation Fund 2012- 2013

2011-08-12

NS Environment is now calling for proposals for the 2012-2013  Climate Change Adaptation Fund. Click here for the fund description and application form.

Conference 'Climate Change: Getting Ready'

2012-02-03

Results of the Atlantic Climate Adaptation Solutions (ACAS) program in Nova Scotia will be presented and discussed in Halifax, March 5-6, 2012.

Quick Links

Adaptation Barriers

 

All kinds of barriers can arise when adapting to climate change:

  • Information Gaps. We may not have the neccessary information or expertise to understand and prepare for climate impacts.  The information we have may not reduce our uncertainty about future impacts and what we should do to prepare.
  • Competing policy priorities. Our governance structures and resources may not be adequate to allow us to invest time and money into adaptation.  There may be other competing priorities or issues that are perceived to be more pressing. 
  • Management Challenges.  Adaptation may require long-term changes that go beyond typical short-term planning horizons, government terms or investment return periods.  As such, important long-term adaptation strategies may get shelved in favour of actions that are more immediate or short-term. 
  • Disbelief in Climate Change. Climate change may not be well-understood, accepted or seen to be an immediate problem.  Some may want to wait until we are certain that climate change is occurring before we take action.

These and other reasons may delay or discourage adaptation.  Improving adaptive capacity is one way to address these challenges.