6.3.4—Adaptation strategies
- Syllabus
- First assessment 2026
- Objective
- 6.3.4
- Level
- HL
Adapt to the Hazard You Actually Have
Adaptation reduces adverse effects or captures benefits by changing exposure, vulnerability or infrastructure for a specific climate hazard.
| Category | Examples | Key trade-off |
|---|---|---|
| Structural | flood defences; desalination plants; movable infrastructure | cost, maintenance, energy and displaced risk |
| Non-structural | drought-resistant crops; vaccination; land zoning; building-code change | access, enforcement, behavior and changing future hazards |
A seawall may protect one district but increase erosion nearby; zoning or movable infrastructure may reduce exposure instead, while desalination can improve water security but add energy and brine impacts.
Match at least two options from each category to hazard, people, timescale, finance and possible maladaptation.
Adaptation is not a universal technology list; a measure can shift risk or lock in future vulnerability.